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Coiifcfleratc Moinorial, Xasliville, Tenn, 



THE CIVIL W^AR 



FROM A SOUTHERN STAND-POINT. 



BY MRS. ANN E. SNYDER, 

Nasuville, Tenn. 



Wc wore ourselves out whipping the enemy .''^—General Cobb. 




printed for the author. 

Publishing House of the M. E. Church, South. 

j. d. barbee, agent, nashville, tenn. 

1890. 

7^ 



e.VNvv. 



y 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1890, 

By Mrs. Ann E. Snyder, 
in the Office of the Librarian of Consrress, at Washini^ton. 



i 



I 



DEDICATION. 

THE AUTHOK OF THIS BOOK DEDICATES IT 

To £nt»s. }icivtiiet maxuiell Ovet»ton, 

AS A SMALL TESTIMONIAL TO HER DEVOTION TO THE CONFEDERATE 

CAUSE, BOTH IN THE STORMY TIMES OF WAR AND IN 

THE QUIETER TIMES OF PEACE— 

A DEVOTION THAT FOUND A PRACTICAL EXPRESSION 

IN THE AMELIORATION OF THE SOLDIERS' LIFE, AND IN ASSISTING THEM 

TO MEND THEIR BROKEN FORTUNES AFTER HAVING 

DONE THEIR DUTY TO THEIR COUNTRY. 



(3) 



I 



PREFACE. 

There have been quite a number of histories of the late war 
between the States, both from a Northern and from a Southern 
stand-point. The former have been so partisan as to force one 
to believe that the South has hardly been fairly represented; 
for the manner in which the Confederate side of the great strug- 
gle is discussed in the common school hastories eminating from 
Northern sources, and which, from a lack of something better, 
are necessarily used in our schools, would make one entirely 
dissatisfied with the actions of the Southern people, from the 
very beginning of the war to its end. But, fortunately, there is 
another side to the question, and one, too, which approaches 
nearer to the truth, and it is this side wiiich the author of this 
little book has endeavored to give ; and in doing this she has 
used freely whatever available sources were at hand, condensing 
the materials as much as possible, so as to bring them into the 
compass of the present small volume. 

The objection to the histories that have been written from a 
Southern stand-point is that they are usually of too large and 
bulky a character for the general reader, and as a result one is 
often astonished to find how very much the mass of our people 
are wanting in a knowledge of the glorious contest which they 
made. Moreover, the histories just referred to are rather per- 
sonal in character, in that they are attempts to explain why this 
or that battle was lost or won, thus introducing much recrimina- 
tion and a large amount of useless discussion. In the present 
work every thing of this nature is so far avoided that it is rather 
the record of how the private soldier fought, written in a plain, 

(5) 



b PREFACE. 

unvarnished style. Therefore, with the earnest hope that the 
book may prove an aid in recaUing to the m'inds of our people 
how grandly and nobly those brave hearts that wore the gray 
struggled through four long years for their cause, in behalf of 
which so many gave their lives, the author sends it forth into 
the hands of the public. 



INTRODUCTION. 



It seems proper to say that I am writing this introduction on 
short notice. The work was assigned to one far more capable 
and widely known than myself, who lately felt compelled to de- 
cline the service. It was then pressed upon me by the author and 
others with a kindness and generosity which obliged me, though 
not well prepared, to accept, and to discharge the duty thus im- 
posed as best I could. I have seen it stated that in judging of a 
book Goethe was accustomed to ask three questions : " What does 
the author propose to do? Is what he proposes worth doing? 
How has he done it? " Let us try to keep these criteria in mind. 
As the effect of the perusal of a book and the estimate which 
the reader puts upon it depend so much upon his getting and 
taking with him a right view of the design of the author, I call 
special attention thereto. That design, as set forth by the writer 
of this volume in her preface, is definite and restricted. It is an 
efibrt to correct, as far as possible, any false statements which 
have come from Northern partisan writers placing the South 
under severe and unjust condemnation ; and believing that the 
masses are largely ignorant in regard to the war, she aims also 
to furnish a book better suited to the general reader, and espe- 
cially the young, than any now before the public, giving much 
prominence to the service of the private soldier, who deserves 
more praise than is usually given him, " as houses, cities, States, 
and institutions of all kinds among men have always owed very 
much more to men whose names have been lost than to those 
whose names have been preserved." There is no purpose to 
displace other larger and more exhaustive works which treat at 

(7) 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

great length and with abihty of the many comfjlex mihtary, 
civil, and social problems growing out of the war ; but it is a 
simple, direct, well-connected, fair, and modest statement of tlie 
Southern side of the conflict by an earnest Southern woman, an 
enthusiastic lover of the Confederate cause, who relies upon 
truth as its defense. 

That what she proposes is worth doing will, I think, be ad- 
mitted without question. It is said that " history is philosophy 
teaching by example," and its chief value is truth, and the great- 
ness and value of truth is its helpfulness. " It is our duty not to 
ridicule the affairs of men, nor deplore, but simply to understand 
them." These weighty words justify every effort to obtain cor- 
rect history. We are safe in saying that " ignorance allows even 
great souls — souls grown too great for personal selfishness — to 
find relief in what they believe unselfishness even in national 
and ecclesiactical selfishness." Could we learn and rightly use 
the lessons of history, we would not allow the vast energies of 
our being to be expended along narrow lines and in small fields. 

To aid in carrying out her purposes and give additional inter- 
est to the volume, the author has secured a valuable appendix, 
which treats of the following subjects : " The South Justified," 
" EeHgion in the Southern Army," and " The Institution of Do- 
mestic Slavery in the Southern States." These are carefully pre- 
pared, and the last two are full of interest and valuable contri- 
butions to history, while the first treats of what is, to some extent, 
a living issue, for although the war has shown secession to be 
impracticable, a number of able and conservative statesmen and 
jurists deny that this proves it to be wrong, and who, while they 
have no wish to incite to its exercise, still claim that it is justifi- 
able as a Constitutional right. From the very origin of Ameri- 
can history it lias ])een predicted that there would be a union 
of self-governing Stiites covering the continent. Even with a 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

homogeneous population in the beginning, on account of our 
various climatic and other influences, the problem is a difficult 
one — namely, the formation of a Government " elastic enough to 
suit all sections and strong enough to hold all together for the 
needed co-operation and progress." Any calm and wise student 
of our history mu'^t see, it seems to me, " that not an empire, not 
an autocracy, not a limited monarchy, would realize this great 
ideal, but States united, not welded but fluent, each as perfectly 
free to discharge the functions of statedom by securing the lil3- 
erties and promoting the progress of its people as if it were the 
only State on the globe," yet bound to all the other States, the 
prosperity of the whole being the prosperity of each — States 
worthy of union worthily united. In perfecting such an august 
consummation, M^hich plainly must be the work of years, it is 
quite easy to perceive, to borrow a beautiful figure, " how theie 
might be many who could see more clearly the value of the 
Union than that of constitutional liberty, and how there might 
be others in whose eyes the union of States would be to the lib- 
erty of States as the casket is to the crowned jewel it contains, 
or the human body to its spiritual inhabitant." 

As to how well the author has succeeded in her effort the 
reader must decide, and to do so fairly he should keep in mind 
the design of the work and think calmly of the great struggle 
and what may be the final outcome. In my judgment, all who 
thus act must go beyond the pinched patriotism of sectional ani- 
mosities, and while deeply deploring the war with its sad phys- 
ical and sadder moral effects, honor the heroic effort of the 
South. Although the work is intensely Southern, its spirit is 
excellent, all severity being carefully avoided by the author. I 
bespeak for it a cordial welcome at the hands of a generous 
public. li. LiN. Cave. 

Nashville, Teun., March 26, 1890. 



CONTENTS, 



CHAPTER L PAGE 

The Causes 15 

The Slavery Question 17 

States' Rights and Centralization 23 

CHAPTER II. 

The Secession of the States 27 

The Confederacy Established 29 

The First Gun 31 

The Emancipation Proclamation 33 

Battle of Bethel 36 

The Confederates Win at Manassas 40 

CHAPTER in. 
Affairs in Missouri 47 

CHAPTER IV. 

Battle of Cheat Mountain 51 

Cumberland Gap 54 

CHAPTER V. 
Affairs in Kentucky 57 

General Polk Attacked by the Federals 58 

Death of General Zollicoffer 61 

CHAPTER VI 

Fort Donelson — Permanent Organization 64 

The Battle of Fort Donelson 64 

The Confederates Evacuate Nashville 67 

A Permanent Organization 68 

CHAPTER VII 

Affairs on the Water 69 

A Confederate Naval Victory at Hampton Roads 69 

(10) 



COKTENTS. 11 

CHAPTER Vni. 

Generals Van Dorn and Sibley in the West 73 

Battle of Elk Horn 74 

In the Far West. 75 

CHAPTER IX. 

Island No. Ten — Shiloh— New Orleans 77 

The Great Battle of Shiloh 78 

Fall of New Orleans 82 

CHAPTER X. 

Gallant Defense of Richmond 84 

Kernstown — Jackson Repulsed 85 

Jackson's Successes in the Valley 85 

Jackson Defeats the Federals at Port Republic 87 

Activities on the Chickahominy 89 

Mechanicsville — Malvern Hill 90 

CHAPTER XL 

A Series of Important Events 94 

The Battle of Boonsboro 103 

Surrender of Harper's Ferry 104 

Battle of Sharpsburg 105 

CHAPTER XIL 

Movements in the West Again 109 

Battle of Perryville, October 8 113 

In the South-west 115 

Battle of Corinth 117 

Guerrilla Warfare in Missouri 119 

CHAPTER XIIL 

Campaign in Northern Virginia 121 

General Hindman's Success in Arkansas 125 

Cavalry Exploits 126 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Murfreesboro — Galveston — Arkansas 128 

Capture of Galveston 133 

Surrender of Arkansas Post 134 

Confederate Rams Attack the Federals in Charleston Har- 
bor 135 



12 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XV. p^GE 

Impressment— Batteries and Gun-boats 137 

Federals Attack Fort McAllister 138 

The Federals in Front of Vicksburg 138 

The Federals Repulsed from Charleston 141 

CHAPTER XVL 

Chancellorsville— Vicksburg — Gettysburg 143 

Death of General Jackson 147 

Loss of Vicksburg 148 

Invasion of Psnnsyl vania 149 

Battle of Gettysburg 150 

CHAPTER XVIL 

Siege of Charleston — Morgan's Raid 154 

General Morgan's Raid 158 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Chickamauga— Martial Law in Kentucky 162 

Battle of Chickamauga 163 

Martial Law in Kentucky 167 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Rappahannock— Missionary Ridge 170 

Skirmishes on the Rappahannock 170 

Missionary Ridge. 174 

CHAPTER XX. 

Minor Operations in the West 180 

Virginia and Tennessee Border 181 

Lincoln's " Peace Proclamation " 183 

Attack upon New Berne, N. C 186 

Battle of Ocean Pond 187 

CHAPTER XXL 

Invasion of Mississippi and Alabama 189 

Legal Enactments .• 191 

Federal Cavalry Raids 192 

Federal Expeditions from New Orleans and Vicksburg. . . 193 

General Forrest in Kentucky 195 

Confederates Retake Plymouth, N. C 19() 



CONTENTS. 13 

CHAPTER XXIL page 

In Virginia Again 198 

Cold Harbor 203 

The Western Part of Virginia 204 

Attack upon Petersburg 205 

Other Reverses of the Enemy 20G 

The Loss of the "Alabama " 207 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

General Sherman in the South 209 

General Forrest at Guntown 213 

General Early's Raid .' 213 

General John Morgan Invades Kentucky 215 

General Price in Missouri , , 215 

The " Peace " Question 216 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Naval Operations — General Grant in Virginia 220 

Destruction of the " Florida " and "Albemarle " 221 

The Attempts upon Richmond 221 

Sheridan's Raid in the Valley, 224 

Battle of Cedar Creek 225 

General Breckinridge in East Tennessee 227 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Operations op Generals Sherman and Hood 228 

Battle of Nashville 230 

General Sherman's March 231 

Attempts upon Wilmington 232 

Fall of Charleston and Columbia 234 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

The End 237 

Peace Conference 238 

Closing Conflicts 239 

The Surrender 241 

General Order No. 9 243 



14 CONTENTS. 

APPENDIX. PAGE 

The South JusxirfED 245 

Eeligion in the Southern Army 271 

Prison Service 295 

The Institution of Domestic Slavery in the Southern 
States 304 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Confederate Memorial, Nashville, Tenn Frontispiece. 

Fort Sumter in 1861 30 

Battle between the " Monitor " and the " Merrimac " 72 

Destruction of Cotton at the Taking of New Orleans. . . 83 

Harper's Ferry * 104 

Destruction of the "Hatteras" by the Confederate 

Steamer, "Alabama," Admiral Semmes Commanding 136 

General Lee before the " Battle of the Wilderness" 200 

The "Sumter" Running the Blockade, and Chased by 

the Federal Ship, " Iroquois " . . 220 

Colonel John Overton's Residence, General Hood's Head- 
quarters AT the Battle of Nashville 230 

Mr. Wilmer McLean's Residence, Where General Lee 
Surrendered 242 



THE CIVIL yvAn 

FROM A SOUTHERN STAND-POINT. 



CHAPTER 1. 

The Causes. 

FROM the very character of the people that settled 
what is known as the Northern or, more strictly, 
the New England States, and those that settled in the 
Southern section of the country, one can easily see 
that in the course of the peculiar development of 
each natural and distinct lines of difference will be 
the result. Consequently, in the narration of the 
momentous struggle of the eventful years from 1860 
to 1865, it is eminently proper to briefly outline the 
causes that led up to it, going back to colonial days, 
to explain the heated antagonism that fell like the 
burst of a storm-cloud upon the country. 

The emigrants that settled the New England States 
were, for the most part, religious malcontents. The 
memory of Marston Moor and Cromwell was still 
fresh, and the royal head of Charles rolling from the 
block was not the act of a distant past, but was close 

enough in time to be a reality. The restoration 

(15) 



16 THE CIVIL WAE. 

came, and with it the Puritan thought he saw all 
the results of his hard-fought victories swept away. 
Next to that personal devil which ever accompanied 
and contested with him in every good resolution, this 
Puritan hated the house of Stuart and all the nobles 
that took their stand by its fortunes. Consequently, 
after having emigrated from the mother country, 
these feelings became more intense in character. In 
their new home, the foundations of which were laid 
from the persecutions which produced the. civil war 
in England, they began to construct a civilization 
peculiarly their own — a civilization which was a 
strange compound of persecution and bigotry. The 
exiles that had been made homeless by persecution 
and intolerance in turn sent to the mercies of the 
pitiless savage whoever might differ with them in 
religion or opinion. Forgetful of their own unhap- 
py past, they became the very incarnation of those 
very qualities which had made England to them an 
unkind step-mother. The district that they had set- 
tled in was barren and rocky. Much labor and care 
were necessary to get from the apparently unwilling 
soil its products and fruits. Consequently agricult- 
ure was followed only as a matter of necessity. This 
encouraged the growth of cities and city life, which 
thrived marvelously as time passed. on. 

Turning now to those colonies of the South, histo- 
ry shows a civilization founded and developed purely 



THE CAUSES. . 17 

imitative in character, differing in every essential 
feature from that developed at the North. These 
emigrants were neither political nor religions refu- 
gees, but they were rather acting under the impulse 
of a venturesome age that made them leave their isl- 
and home and seek the El Dorado of the new world. 
Nor were they all English. The Huguenots came 
over. Those who had followed the white plume of 
good Henry of Navarre united their race and lineage 
with the descendants of the victors of Cressy and 
Poitiers. Here was a commingling of royal blood. 
The soil of this new country was fair and fertile be- 
yond compare. Consequently the greatest induce- 
ments were held out to the agriculturist, and, as a 
natural result, city life was discouraged and the 
growth of large plantations inevitable. 

The Slavery Question. 

Into both sections — thus begun, indeed, under the 
same circumstances, but differing widely both as to 
the character of the people who settled them and the 
nature of the civilizations that must necessarily fol- 
low — negro slavery was introduced, that system 
which was one day to kindle a fire which would light 
the world with its awful glare. 

The slave is never a profit to his owner save in ag- 
ricultural pursuits. Therefore in the New England 
States he was very soon found to be out of place and 



18 THE CIVIL WAR. 

a loss to liis owner, while at the South he became a 
very necessary and essential feature of the farm and 
the plantation. Being in demand, the people of the 
New England States found no difficulty in disposing 
of the slaves in their possession at a fair price to the 
large plantation-owners at the South. But so soon 
as they were rid of this apparently useless feature of 
their civilization it was discovered that slavery is a 
curse and slave-holding a crime, and therefore the 
logical conclusion to one admitting the major prem- 
ise was that all Southern people were criminals in 
the sight of Heaven. 

From the nature of the two sections, as already 
outlined, one can see that a cause, however slight, 
may beget an antagonism which will grow in inten- 
sity as the years go by, until, finally, to natural divis- 
ions and distinctions artificial ones will be added. 
Among the latter diflPerences the question of slavery 
became the all-important one; and one, too, that at a 
very early date in the history of the country created 
more bitter and more intense opposition than one 
would expect from the nature of the question alone. 

That the people of the North should so soon be- 
come horrified at an institution which they them- 
selves once countenanced, and should allow their 
opposition to it to assume the character of a fanat- 
ical hatred, would indeed be a very problematical 
question of itself alone; but when one remembers 



THE CAUSES. 19 

the innate intolerance of the people — narrow and 
lacking in breadth of judgment and liberality of opin- 
ion, together with that old nature nurtured in the 
mother country and transplanted to American soil, 
and which did not change nor alter itself with its 
changed surroundings and conditions — then the ques- 
tion is no longer a problem. One almost feels that 
the battle of the Cavalier and the Roundhead is to 
be fought over again. This American Puritan could 
not appreciate that broad, liberal, free civilization 
that was developing at the South; for it seemed to be 
rich where his was poor. Its prosperity was a mar- 
vel and a wonder to him; the very gladness of its 
life contrasted sharply with his own, which a narrow 
creed had settled into such hard places. 

Moreover, the natural and necessary product of a 
noble civilization is a noble and a princely manhood. 
Consequently the slave-holding States, by sheer force 
of a superior intellectuality, dominated the National 
Government and affected the character of all legisla- 
tion by the impress of their masterly minds. The 
inevitable effect of this upon the North was to create 
and to foster that feeling of jealousy that naturally 
existed, to add fuel to the fires of slavery agitation, 
and to widen sectional lines. 

As far back as 1787 controversies arose in regard 
to the slavery question, and the convention of dele- 
gates from the New England States which met at 



20 THE CIVIL WAR. 

Hartford, Conn., in 1814, though ostensibly called 
for other purposes, really owed its conception to a 
jealousy of the political power of the slave-holding 
States. Besides, even as early as this time, there 
was such a strong under-current of hostility at the 
North that it showed itself in an effort to prevent 
representation in Congress from the South; and 
threats of secession, which was afterward thought 
so criminal and illegal on the part of the South, were 
heard from that section which had for its war-cry the 
upholding of the Constitution and the preservation 
of the Federal Union. 

In 1820 the admission of the State of Missouri 
furnished a cause for battle betw^een the discordant 
elements. The result of this legislation was the so- 
called Mason and Dixon's line, which, while it pro- 
duced a temporary peace, gave sectional divisions and 
feelings a distinctness and definiteness that they had 
never had before; for, with something like prophetic 
vision, the aged Thomas Jefferson wrote to a friend 
in regard to the measure: " It [the question of slav- 
ery] sleeps, but is not dead. A geographical line co- 
inciding with a marked principle, moral and political, 
once conceived of men, will not be obliterated; every 
new irritation makes it deeper." 

With this new dividing line making matters con- 
crete, so to speak, where, before, they were abstract, 
the agitation of the slavery question was intensified 



THE CAUSES. 21 

into a kind of religions fanaticism which made a war 
on the South necessary, ahnost, to the salvation of 
one's soul. This spirit is illustrated in the remarks 
of Dr. Tyng, a prominent minister of New York City, 
and one, too, of more than local celebrity, in present- 
ing Bibles to certain notorious roughs of that city, 
known as "Billy Wilson's men." Though commend- 
ing to them the Book ot peace, he declared that in 
carrying the horrors of a bitter and relentless war 
into the Southern States they were propitiating the 
favors of Heaven, and it would count much in the fi- 
nal salvation of their souls. That this question be- 
came a species of religious fanaticism is shown in 
the spirit of the ministers of the Northern Methodist 
Church, which finally became so bitter as to produce 
a permanent separation into two distinct bodies; and 
in the character of that famous novel by Mrs. Har- 
riet Beecher Stowe, " Uncle Tom's Cabin," which, 
from its pathetic coloring, and coming just at a time 
when the popular mind of the North was ready to re- 
ceive any 'thing which might represent the Southern 
people as criminals and barbarians, exercised a tre- 
mendous influence. And this same influence has not 
lost its power even at the present day ; for the leopard 
cannot change its spots, and some sections of the 
North are ever ready to believe that old, false tale of 
horrors in regard to the South. 

Discussions, resolutions, debates, and abuse took a 



22 THE CIVIL WAR. 

practical sliape when that incarnation o£ rank fanat- 
icism, John Brown, with his deluded followers, in- 
vaded the soil of Virginia with the purpose of inciting 
servile insurrection among the happy and contented 
slaves of that old Commonwealth. This demonstra- 
tion of Brown was no spasmodic, abnormal outbreak, 
but rather the natural outcome of that spirit at the 
North which at once was more than ready to sympa- 
thize w^ith his movement, and to declare his example 
worthy of emulation, and not only one of the cliief- 
est of the earthly virtues, but also a service to God. 

The certain tendency of Northern oj^inion is again 
shown in the nomination by the Republican i)arty 
for Speaker of the House of Hon. John Sherman, 
who publicly recommended a book known as the 
"Helper Book," which advocated a murderous up- 
rising of the slaves at the South. One short quota- 
tion will be sufficient to suggest the line of procedure 
to which this leading representative of the Repub- 
lican party had committed himself: "Frown, sir; 
fret, foam, prepare your weapons, threafeii, strike^ 
shooi, stab, bring on civil war, dissolve the Union; 
nay, annihilate the solar system, do whatjyou will, you 
can neither foil nor intimidate us; our purpose is 
fixed as the pillars of the eternal heavens. We have 
determined to abolish slavery, and so help us God 
we will!" These utterances in the calmness of the 
present seem rather like the rabid vaporings of in- 



THE CAUSES. 23 

sanity than the expressions of reason, yet the book 
is clearly characteristic of that frenzy into which the 
North had worked itself. 

States' Eights and Centralization. 

When in any community or associations of men 
there develop certain principles and opinions that 
grow and increase in force and intensity to such an 
extent as to call into existence two distinct divisions 
completely discordant and out of harmony with each 
other, so that the peace and welfare of either the one 
or the other is threatened, then naturally a question 
of permanent separation arises. With this question 
there also arises another hardly secondary in impor- 
tance — viz., as to the character of the original con- 
tract into which they entered, its terms and its ob- 
ligations ; whether union was voluntary or otherwise, 
and what were the causes that led to it. 

The causes that have been before enumerated pro- 
duced just such a state of circumstances in the United 
States. Consequently there arose two very widely 
divergent interpretations of the Federal Constitu- 
tion, its powers and its limitations, technically called 
"States' rights" and "centralization." The former 
opinion was held to by the Southern States, and 
meant that each individual State had certain rights 
and privileges which were not surrendered when it 
went into a vol unfa r// federation or league with the 



24 THE CIVIL WAR. 

other States. On the other hand, the opposition, 
taking as their motto that celebrated saying of An- 
drew Jackson, " The Federal Union must and siiall 
be preserved," denied to the individual States any 
rights or liberties that a majority might not take 
from them at any time they might see fit, and that a 
strong, centralized government might inflict any laws 
or prohibitions in regard to local government, how- 
ever odious or oppressive. to the people. 

The sentiment of the North crystallized about this 
latter opinion, the purpose of which looked clearly 
toward the abolishment of the system of slavery at 
the South. This system had become so thoroughly 
inwrought into the very fiber of Southern life that 
the abolishment of it was like literally tearing a 
member from the body. It also constituted a prin- 
cix)al portion of- their wealth and was absolutely nec- 
essary to the character of the industry carried on 
at the South. Therefore, with the certain and sure 
sweeping away of the vast wealth involved in the 
slave staring them in the face, together with a sacred 
principle at stake as old as the first dream of human 
liberty— that man must be left to the free and un- 
obstructed enjoyment of his property and the pursuit 
'of happiness — the Southern statesmen, as represent- 
atives of the people, began to see that they must have 
recourse to the last means open to the oppressed — 
revolution. In this case revolution meant secession 



THE CAUSES. 25 

on the i^art of the South — a peaceful withdrawal 
from the compact into which they had gone volunta- 
rily^, and from which they might separate whenever 
from reasonable causes the bond became irksome or 
oppressive. 

In the beginning the original colonies formed a 
defensive and offensive alliance in the war against 
Great Britain. At the successful termination of this 
war this league was formally ratified into the United 
States of America, with the individual liberties of 
each State guaranteed. Therefore from the very 
principle of both the original and the subsequent 
union, while time may smooth away the differences 
and divergencies between the various members of 
this Union, and thus bring the States closer together 
and render them more compact, it cannot develop a 
right in any one particular section to interfere with 
practices and systems in any other, recognized as 
legal and legitimate at the time of the original Union; 
for power of this kind belongs to conquest and op- 
pression. It is that which Rome exercised over her 
provinces gained by the might of the sword, which 
Bonaparte exhibited after victories in Germany and 
Italy, and which England showed, in her dealings 
with the American colonies — the natural result of 
which was to bring on the war of the revolution that 
made possible the existence of the United States. 
Therefore, with this view of the character and nature 



26 THE CIVIL WAK. 

of the Federal Union, it is entirely a misnomer to 
say that the Southern people were " traitors " in any 
sense of the word; for to be a traitor one must com- 
mit traitorous deeds. Will future history, or rather 
does the whole past history of the human race define 
treason as a defense of individual rights, resistance 
to oppression, or devotion to a principle as deeply 
rooted as the pillars of heaven and as essential to 
human happiness as the air is essential to life ? Con- 
sequently the Southern people would have indeed 
been traitors to all history had they done otherw^ise 
under the circumstances. 



CHAPTER II. 

The Secession of the States. 

WITH sucli feelings as these prevailing at the 
South, the election of Abraham Lincoln 
seemed to bring matters to a focus. The South 
had hoped that the so-called conservative element 
at the North would put a check upon the wild rush 
of that frantic crusade that was being made against 
her. But Mr. Lincoln being the representative of 
the most violent and hostile class, the South began 
to prepare to separate herself from that Union which 
had ceased to do its duty toward her, which had 
ceased to guarantee her rights or to even give secu- 
rity to home and fireside, and which had become 
the oppressor instead of the protector. 

Actual withdrawal from the Union was begun De- 
cember 20, 1860, by the Legislature of South Caro- 
lina unanimously passing the ordinance of secession. 
Six days later Major Anderson, with the United States 
troops, evacuated Fort Moultrie, in Cliarleston harbor. 
In Jknuary, 1861, Florida seceded; followed by Mis- 
sissippi on the 9th of the same month, Alabama on 
the 11th, Georgia on the 20th, Louisiana on the 26th, 
and Texas on February 1. Thus, in less than three 

(27) 



28 



THE CIVIL WAR. 



18G1. 



months after the election of Mr. Lincohi, all the so- 
called cotton States had left the Union by a unani- 
mous vote of the people, and had secured every Feder- 
al fortification except the ones in Charleston harbor. 
Just one month from the secession of South Caro- 
lina, January 21, 1861, Jefferson Davis, of Missis- 
sipi, Messrs. Kilpatrick and C. C. Clay, of Alabama, 
and Yulee and Mallory, of Florida, resigned their po- 
sitions in the National Houses of Congress. Though 
in extreme bad health at the time, Mr. Davis made a 
forcible yet temperate speech that made a solemn 
and lasting impression upon his hearers. Mr. Clay's 
speech of resignation was more violent and aggressive 
in character, for he made a vigorous attack upon the 
Republican party as the cause of the division that 
must necessarily separate the two sections. 

The State of Virginia was not quite ready to push 
matters to the extreme of secession. Accordingly, 
February 4, 1861, the Legislature met and passed res- 
olutions whose purpose was a peaceful and honorable 
settlement of the difficulties, to be effected by a con- 
ference to be held in Washington. At first this line 
of procedure seemed to meet with a favorable re- 
sponse, so that the convention met at Richmond 
and held a session of several days' duration, but ad- 
journed without agreeing upon any definite plan of 
adjustment. Shortly afterward the Legislature was 
again called together, and an election was held, show- 



1801. THE SECESSION OF THE STATES. 29 

ing that a majority were opposed to an unconditional 
secession of the State. Subsequently Tennessee and 
North Carolina decided to call a convention with a 
somewhat similar purpose. This apparent reluctance 
of these States to rush at once into secession en- 
couraged the enemies of the South into thinking 
that some at least of the slave-holding States would 
remain in the Union, and tamely submit to the dep- 
rivation of their property and rights. 

The Confederacy Established. 

Meanwhile the six seceded States began to take 
steps toward establishing a provisional government 
by a convention of delegates from each assembled at 
Montgomery, Ala., February 4, 1861. After deliber- 
ating four days, this body adopted a Constitution for 
the Confederate States of America, which differed 
very little from the Constitution of the United States. 
In the election of President and Vice-president on 
the 9th the choice fell unanimously upon Jeff Davis, 
of Mississippi, and Alexander Stephens, of Georgia. 
The newly organized government now began active 
preparations to make good its claim to be numbered 
among the nations of earth, and took the initiative 
by taking possession of the different United States 
forts and arsenals. Fort Moultrie and Castle Pinck- 
ney, at Charleston, were captured by the State troops; 
Fort Pujaski, at Savannah; Mount Yernon, Ala., was 



30 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G1. 

taken, witli twenty tliousand stands of arms; Fort 
Morgan, in Mobile Bay; Forts Jackson, St. Philip, 
and Pike, near New Orleans, together with the cus- 
tom-house and mint; Pensacola Navy Yard; Forts 
Baraccas, McCrae, and Pickens; the arsenals at both 
Baton Bouge, La., and Little Bock, Ark. 

Martin Crawford and John Forsyth, both of Geor- 
gia, were sent as commissioners to Mr. Seward, the 
Secretary of State at Washington, in regard to Fort 
Sumter. They were given the verbal assurance that 
the United States w^as disposed to acquiesce in their 
demands to remove the troops from Fort Sumter. 
But in this the commissioners were deceived, for the 
United States Government was at this same time 
making active preparations for a siege and sending 
re-enforcements, while, with their fleet, which ap- 
peared, off the harbor April 12, 1861, they were 
threatening the city of Charleston. These matters 
were promptly telegraphed to the Confederate Secre- 
tary of War, Mr. Walker, who at once ordered General 
Beauregard to demand the immediate surrender of 
the fort, and if this demand was refused to proceed 
to reduce it by force of arms. In reply to General 
Beauregard's demand to surrender. Major Anderson, 
the Union commander, wrote as follows : " I have the 
honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communi- 
cation demanding the evacuation of Fort Sumter, and 
to say in reply thereto that it is a demand with v/hich 



I 



> 




Fort Sumter in 1861. 



(30) 



18G1. THE SECESSION OF THE STATES. 31 

I regret my sense of honor and my obligation to my 
Government x^revent my compliance." General Bean- 
regard had now no other course save to accept the 
gauntlet of war thus thrown down to him. So a lit- 
tle after three o'clock on the morning of April 12 
he sent word by his aids to Major Anderson that he 
would open fire with his batteries just one hour from 
that time. 

The First Gun. 

The signal shell that opened in real earnest the aw- 
ful four years' struggle went from Fort Johnson with 
its red glare across the gray sky of that momentous 
dawn, April 12. This was followed by the fire from 
Fort Moultrie, Cumming's Point, and the floating 
battery. The Federals endured in silence this can- 
nonading until seven o'clock, when they opened fire 
with their guns. Toward ev^ening the terrific bom- 
bardment by the Confederates began to tell upon the 
fort. The garrison was driven from the barbette 
guns, and the parapet walls began to crumble away. 
The Federal fleet off the harbor remained a passive 
and inactive witness of the certain destruction of the 
fort. Why they took no part in the fight is ex- 
plained by Captain Cox: "As we neared the land, 
heavy guns were heard, and the smoke and shells 
from the batteries that had just opened fire on Fort 
Sumter were distinctly visible. Immediately I stood 
out to inform Captain Eowan, of the * Pawnee,' but 



32 THE CIVIL WAR. 1861. 

met liim coming in. He hailed me and asked for a 
pilot, declaring his intention of standing into the 
harbor and sharing the fate of his brethren in the 
army. I went on board and informed him I would 
answer for it that the Government did not expect 
any such gallant sacrifice, having settled upon the 
policy indicated in the instructions to myself and 
Captain Mercer." 

Meanwhile on the shore the Confederate troops 
were in raptures over the prospect of victory, and on 
the following morning early (April 13) every Con- 
federate battery opened fire upon Sumter, which was 
replied to vigorously for a time. At eight o'clock 
smoke was seen issuing from the fort, and its firing 
was only at long intervals. At half-past one o'clock 
in the afternoon a shot from Fort Moultrie tore the 
flag-stafP from the walls of Sumter. Seeing the des- 
perate condition of the garrison, and the flames be- 
ing on the increase, General Beauregard sent three of 
his aids with a message to Major Anderson, to the ef- 
fect that, as his flag was no longer flying and his quar- 
ters in flames, and, supposing him to be in distress, he 
desired to offer him any assistance he might need. 
However, before the aids reached the fort the flag 
was again flung to the breeze, but only for a short 
time, for soon the white flag of truce was substituted 
for it, which meant that after two days of heavy bom- 
bardment Sumter had surrendered. It was a Joyous 



1861. THE SECESSION OF THE STATES. 33 

occasion in the city of Charleston. The ringing of 
bells, the pealing of cannon accompanied the shouts 
of the happy and elated citizens. But in the midst 
of their rejoicing they did not forget that magnanim- 
ity due from the victor to the conquered. As a testi- 
monial to the gallantry of Major Anderson, General 
Beauregard not only agreed that the garrison might 
take passage for New York at their own convenience, 
but also allowed them, on evacuating the fort, to sa- 
lute their flag with fifty guns. 

Proclamation of War. 

The fall of Sumter did not disturb Mr. Lincoln. 
He had calculated the result and the effect upon the 
country. April 14, 1861, the great proclamation, call- 
ing for troops to subjugate in sixty days the grand- 
est people in the world, was sent forth as follows: 
"Having thought fit to call forth, and do hereby call 
forth, the militia of the several States of the Union 
to the aggregate number of 75,000, in order to sup- 
press said combinations, and to cause the laws to be 
duly executed. The details for this object will be 
immediately communicated to the State authorities' 
through the War Department at Washington City." 

The effect of this proclamation was to make the 
Northern States a unit against the South. Demo- 
crats who had once been friends to her now turned 
against her, and joined themselves, with the zeal of 
3 



34 THE CIVIL WAR. 1861: 

new converts, to tlie bitter abolition party; and those 
wlio were before mild and conservative now became 
the fiercest advocates of the war. John Cockraine, a 
leading member of the Northern wing of the Demo- 
cratic party, advised the masses to crush out the re- 
bellion and, if need be, drown the South in one indis- 
criminate sea of blood. 

As antagonism begets an antagonism of like pro- 
portion and equal degree, so the Southern States, one 
after another, refused to furnish to the United States 
Government troops with which to subjugate their sis- 
ter States. Governor McGoffin, of Kentucky, declared 
that his State would furnish no troops, but would re- 
main strictly neutral; while Governor Ellis, of North 
Carolina, replied to the call that he could take no 
part in violating the laws of the land. 

On April 17 the glorious news flashed over the 
South that proud old Virginia, at last true to her sis- 
ter States, had adopted the ordinance of secession, 
with the following patriotic resolutions, that sounded 
the key-note of Southern thought and opinion: "The 
people of Virginia recognize the true American prin- 
ciple that the Government is founded on the con- 
sent of the governed and the right of the several 
States of this Union for just cause to withdraw from 
their association under the Federal Government with 
the people of the other States, and to erect new Gov- 
ernments for their better security; and that they 



1861. THE SECESSION OF THE STATES. o5 

never will consent that the Federal power, which is in 
part their power, shall be exerted for the purpose of 
subjugating such States to the Federal authority." 

Virginia was followed by Arkansas May 4; North 
Carolina, May 20; and Tennessee, June 8. 

The light of April 19, 1861, saw the spilling of the 
first drop of fratricidal blood. The United States 
troops, in passing through the streets of Baltimore, 
were attacked by the brave and spirited citizens of 
that noble city, and for two weeks (full of excitement 
and terribly suggestive of the tenacity and bitterness 
of the four years that were to follow) the route was 
closed to the soldiers. A regiment of Massachusetts 
volunteers was compelled to move its quarters. 
Meanwhile the citizens flung to the breeze a South- 
ern banner and were fired into by the troops, whom 
they in turn attacked with stones and sticks, or what- 
ever weapons might come to hand. Afterward a 
mass-meeting was held by the thoroughly indignant 
populace, and addresses were made by the most prom- 
inent and leading citizens of Baltimore advocating 
secession as the only palliation for their wounded 
honor. 

On the same day ( April 19) Mr. Lincoln issued his 
proclamation declaring all the ports of the South in 
state of blockade, and threatening that any interfer- 
ance with the vessels of the United States upon the 
Iciiixh seas would be considered as nothine: less than 



36 THE CIVIL WAR. l-'^Cl. 

piracy. Letters of marque had already been issued 
by the Confederate Government. Just at this time 
Eobert E. Lee resigned his position in the regular 
army of the United States, to answer the call that his 
native State had made for his sword and his marvel- 
ous military genius. He was at once placed in com- 
mand in Virginia. On the same day with the issuing 
of Lincoln's blockade proclamation and the attack 
upon the Massachusetts troops in Baltimore the 
Federals evacuated Harper's Ferry. 

On the 20th of the following month ( May ) the seat of 
the Confederate Government was moved from Mont- 
gomery, Ala., to Eichmond, Va., where President 
Davis, as the representative head of the yet untried 
republic, was accorded a wa;'m 'and demonstrative 
welcome. 

The first invasion of Virginia was begun by the 
Federal troops occupying Alexandria (May 4), and the 
State troops falling back and taking a position at 
Manassas Junction, under the command of General 
Bohan, of South Carolina. 

Battle of Bethel. 

Matters remained in about this situation until the 
10th of the following month, when Colonel J. Bank- 
head Magruder, who was intrenched at Great Bethel 
Church, nine miles south of Hampton, was attacked 
by a Federal force under General Pierce four thou- 



1861. THE SECESSION OF THE STATES. 37 

sand strong. A battery of Eichmond howitzers was 
the first to receive the charge. They retreated from 
their guns, and Captain Bridges, of the First North 
Carolina, was ordered to retake them. With a cool- 
ness and a deliberation rather characteristic of 
trained veterans than raw troops, they advanced to 
the charge in the midst of a terrible artillery fire, 
and when within sixty yards of the Federals they 
dashed, forward at a splendid double-qnick and drove 
the Federals back in confusion to a position ob- 
scured by the dense growth of the timber. After a 
considerable amount of skirmishing and artillery- 
firing, the Federals were re-enforced by a column 
under the command of Major Winthrop. The first 
lines of his troops wore white bands around their 
caps, in order, if possible, to deceive the Confederates 
and take them unawares, for this band was a badge 
of their own uniform. Besides, they cried out re- 
peatedly: " Don't fire! don't fire! " They crossed the 
small creek between our line and theirs with exultant 
cheers, evidently supposing that our work was open 
at that point, and that by a sudden rush they could 
make a breach. But this proved a costly delusion 
when the steady and effective fire of the North Car- 
olina Infantry was turned upon the Federals, who 
were forced to fall back almost in a rout and with the 
loss of their commander. Major Winthrop, who had 
excited the admiration of the Confederates by his 



38 THE CIVIL WAR. 1861. 

conspicuous gallantry. Though this battle was not 
quite decisive enough to be called a complete victory, 
yet it was a timely check upon the advance of the 
Federals. 

The partial victory of the Confederates at Bethel 
was followed by a partial disaster at Eich Mountain, 
in Eandolph County, Ya. The main body of Fed- 
erals, under General MacClellan, twenty thousand 
strong, were advancing toward Beverly, with the ob- 
ject of getting in the rear of General Garnett, who had 
been put in command in North-west Yirginia. Gen- 
eral Garnett had taken a strong position at Bich 
Mountain, having his forces arranged as follows: 
Colonel Pegram occupied the mountain with one 
thousand six hundred men and several pieces of ar- 
tillery; while General Garnett, with three thousand 
infantry, six pieces of artillery, and three companies 
of cavalry, had intrenched himself on the slopes of 
Laurel Hill. On the 5th of July the Federals took 
their position at Bealington, directly in front of Lau- 
rel Hill; and two days afterward a large force held 
a similar position opposite Bich Mountain. With 
the two forces situated thus with respect to each 
other, General Garnett was informed by Colonel Pe- 
gram that he had learned that there were seven thou- 
sand men in front of Bich Mountain, with General 
MacClellan present and in command, and that orders 
had already been given for an attack in front, while 



1861. 



THE SECESSION OF THE STATES. 39 



General Kosecrans had started around by a conven- 
ient route with three thousand troops to strike him 
in the rear; that to guard against that movement 
against his rear he had placed a piece of artillery 
with three hundred men at the point where Eose- 
crans was expected. On the receipt of this note 
General Garnett at once instructed Colonel Pegram 
to defend his position at all hazards, which order he 
gallantly obeyed when the Federals moved in the 
midst of a pouring rain, through the tangled and 
pathless woods, to attack them. The Federals were 
at first disappointed that their attempt to surprise 
the little band upon the mountain had failed, but 
they continued to advance under a terrific artillery 
fire that seemed to tear the forest asunder. As- 
saulted by more than thrice their number, in both 
front and rear, the condition of the little band was 
hopeless from the beginning; yet for more than two 
hours they maintained the struggle against such 
odds, until Colonel Pegram saw that their only 
chance was to try to escape. Colonel Tyler, with the 
troops under him, succeeded in doing so; but Colonel 
Pegram, receiving the news that General Garnett had 
evacuated Laurel Hill, was compelled to surrender 
the remaining five hundred. 

General Garnett conducted his retreat in remarka- 
bly good order, considering the difficulties encount- 
ered. His course lay through the mountains, over a 



40 THE CIVIL WAK. 1861. 

road hardly wide enough for one wagon to pass. 
When the tired, weary little band reached the branch 
of the Cheat River the pursuing Federals fell upon 
their rear and cut off four companies of Georgians. 
At Car rack's Ford a brave resistance was made by the 
Twenty-third Virginia, under Colonel Taliaferro, who 
occupied the high banks upon the right of the ford. 
With vigorous cheers for Jeff Davis, they opened 
an effective fire upon the Federals as they advanced, 
and their fire was replied to quite warmly; but hav- 
ing exhausted nearly every cartridge, General Garnett 
ordered them to retire and continue to retreat. 
At the next ford General Garnett himself fell while 
trying to form his command to defend the crossing. 
The brave little remnant, that had literally contested 
every inch of ground, finally managed to reach Mon- 
terey and form a junction with General Jackson. 

The Confederate Government now found it neces- 
sary to borrow money for the maintenance of its ar- 
mies; so it made what was known as the "produce 
loan," having for its basis the great staple, cotton, 
which was pledged for the redemption of its debts. 

The Confederates Win at Manassas. 

Up to this time the battles had been comparatively 
skirmishes. The first real contest was soon to beafin. 
The two armies of Virginia had maneuvered and 
watched each other warily, like two huge monsters 



1801. THE SECESSION OF THE STATES. 41 

preparing for mortal combat. The Federals were 
bouyed up by the boasted cry of " On to Richmond! " 
while the Confederates felt that they were to put to 
the arbitration of the sword a sacred principle, and 
that the battle w^as to take place at the very threshold 
of home and fireside. 

The Federals were under a commander of reputa- 
tion, and one, too, in wdiom they had all confidence — 
General McDowell. The Congress of the United 
States had given a recess, that all its members might 
be present at the anticipated victory; politicians for- 
got for the time their state-craft, merchants withdrew 
themselves from barter and trade, and mechanics 
laid aside their tools, that they might see with their 
own eyes that first of a series of grand victories 
which were to open the gates of Richmond. The 
fashionable ladies of Washington forgot even their 
tenderness in their desire to see their favorites of 
last night's ball crush the so-called "rebels" and 
" slave-beaters," and were present in the full regalia 
of a gala occasion. 

The divisions of Generals Longstreet and Bonham 
confronted the Federals and consumed the 17th, 18th, 
and 19th of July in preliminary skirmishes, often se- 
vere, along the Bull Run and near the north-west 
junction of Manassas Gap. 

General Johnston was ordered at once to form a 
junction with General Beauregard. He succeeded 



42 THE CIVIL WAR. 1861. 

in reaching Manassas on the 20th, and united the 
Seventh and Eighth Georgia Kegiments and the 
Fourth Alabama, under General Bee, to Jackson's 
Brigade, and he then assumed entire command of the 
forces concentrated here, which now numbered some- 
thing less than thirty thousand, divided into eight 
brigades. The Confederates determined to act on the 
defensive. Soon after sunrise the Federals opened 
with a heavy cannonading in front of Colonel Evans, 
and at the Stone Bridge the divisions opposed to each 
other skirmished for over an hour, during which time 
the main body of Federals were attempting to cross 
the Bull Eun; which movement was checked, making 
the formation of a new line of battle necessary. Aft- 
erward, Colonel Evans, finding that they had suc- 
ceeded in making a crossing, moved his left and was 
attacked by a column sixteen thousand strong, much 
in excess of his own numbers; while General Burnside 
appeared from the woods in front, near Wheat's Louis- 
iana Battery. The Federals were further re-enforced 
by the Second Ehode Island and a mounted battery, 
while Sloan's South Carolina Begiment came to the 
assistance of the Confederates. The determined and 
never-faltering valor of Wheat's Battery soon re- 
pulsed the enemy, though their glorious commander 
fell desperately wounded while leading in a gallant 
charge. To relieve this point against the overwhelm- 
ing numbers that were being massed against it, Gen- 



*4 



1861. ' THE SECESSION OF THE STATES. 43 

eral Bee came with the Seventh and Eighth Georgia, 
Colonel BartoV with the Fourth Alabama, Second 
Mississippi, and two companies of the Eleventh Mis- 
sissippi, together with Imboden's Battery. Thus re- 
enforced, General Evans moved across the plain and 
took up an advanced position which he must hold 
against fifteen thousand Federals. A dreadful con- 
flict of an hour's duration now ensued, which showed 
what mettle the Southern soldiers were made of, and 
that if the Federals reached Richmond their course 
would be more than a holiday episode. In their ef- 
forts to drive our men from their advanced position 
the enemy's line was constantly broken and shattered. 
In the meanwhile General Sherman had crossed the 
Bull Bun, and was threatening our right. Victory 
seemed almost inclined to the Federals; at any rate 
" a glorious victory, with the conquest of Richmond," 
was telegraphed to Washington. The Confederates 
began to waver somewhat, but were checked for the 
time by the heroic Bee, and he too, having suffered 
terribly, was just on the point of being OA'erwhelmed 
by the mere mass and dead weight of the vastly su- 
perior numbers of the enemy, when General Jackson 
arrived. With the inexpressible grief of his heroic 
heart depicted on his countenance, he approached 
Jackson, and said: "General, they are beating us 
back.". "Sir," said Jackson, "give them the bayo- 
net." With renewed zeal and energy, Bee immedi- 



44 THE CIVIL WAR. ' 1861. 

atoly rallied his men, with the inspiring words 
"There's Jackson, standing like a stofie wall; let us 
determine to die here, and we will conquer." 

Now was the crisis of the battle. Orders had al- 
most fatally miscarried, so that General Beauregard 
had to change his plan, which required the greatest 
amount of maneuvering to retrieve the almost lost 
field. 

By noon it seemed as if all the pomp and glory of 
war, together with all its horrors and terrors, had been 
turned loose in this valley filled with smoke, and re- 
verberating and re-echoing with the awful roar of the 
artillery, above which could be heard the old South- 
ern yell, which had sounded its glad note of victory 
before, in the wars with the savage, at New Orleans 
with Jackson, and on the plains of Mexico with Tay- 
lor and Scott. 

On the side of the Confederates matters were be- 
coming desperate now. Something must be done. 
Their left seemed to be overpowered. Holmes's, 
Lindsay's, and Walker's Batteries; Bonham's, Kemp- 
ker's, Ewell's, and Longstreet's Brigades came up just 
in time. General Beauregard charged to the front 
with the Fourth Alabama. At 2 o'clock he issued 
orders for his entire line to recover the positions they 
had lost, which was done with a determination that 
meant victory. Generals Beauregard and Johnston 
now led a general attack, every regiment being in ac- 



1 



1861. THE SECESSION OF THE STATES. 45 

tion. The brave Bee fell mortally wounded at the 
head of his regiment; a few yards from him a shot 
pierced the heart of Colonel Bartow, while he was 
grasping the flag of his command; as he fell, Colonel 
Fisher was also killed. It now became the enemy's 
turn to retreat, and after a terrific resistance they 
were driven across the turnpike. 

General Kirby Smith, with Elzey's Brigade of the 
Army of the Shenandoah and Beckham's Battery, had 
reached Manassas about noon. The flying Federals 
had rallied and turned once more against our left. 
General Johnston ordered General Beauregard to 
seize the opportunity and throw forward his whole 
line. The Federals were again driven back to the 
fields, which were filled with masses of infantry. 
Thence, they scattered in every direction toward the 
Bull Eun. Early's and Cocke's Brigades and Beck- 
ham's Battery, with Stuart's Cavalry, continued to 
play upon the wagon-trains, and so complete was the 
rout and so thorough was the demoralization that 
many even begged clothes from the negroes in which 
to make their escape. The fields seemed covered 
with the flying blue masses, and the victorious Con- 
federates continued to pursue the panic-stricken Fed- 
erals. The retreat became simply a wild stampede, 
with no restraint whatever. The wounded were left 
uncared for, the dead unburied, and the wagon-trains 
with their immense stores of ammunition and provis- 



46 



THE CIVIL WAR. 



1861. 



ions forgotten, nor did the rout and confusion slack- 
en until Centerville was reached.' The grand army 
that in the morning had turned its face so hope- 
fully and so confidently boastful toward Kichmond 
saw its bright prospects darkened with the going 
down of the sun, and had turned its back in a dis- 
graceful panic, with a loss in killed and wounded 
which must have been considerable, though no accu- 
rate estimate can be given. As the price of their 
glorious victory the Confederates laid down 369 noble 
lives, with 1483 wounded. 



CHAPTER III. 

Af f ai rs i n M i ssou ri . 

ABOUT this time interesting events were taking 
place in the West. The Confederate troops en- 
camped on the outskirts of the city of St. Louis, Mo., 
had been forced to surrender, and a reign of terror 
was established by the Dutch Federal soldiers mur- 
dering private citizens and seizing ammunition, sup- 
plies, and every thing else which they could lay 
hands upon. To check their ravages and to defend 
the soil of his State, General Jackson issued a call 
for fifty thousand troops and appointed General 
Price major-general, who in turn created eight brig- 
miiers — Parsons, Hindman, M. L. Clark, Harris, 
Stine, Rains, McBride, and Jeff Thompson. These 
troops were quartered at Booneville. On the 20th of 
June the Federals under General Lyons took up their 
march in that direction. 

The barefooted soldiers under General Marmaduke 
resisted with such signal courage as to surprise the 
Federals. Colonel Cooke, a brother to that notorious 
B. F. Cooke who was executed at Charlestown, W. 
Va., as an accomplice of John Brown, was one of the 
Federal home guards. These so-called home guards 

(47) 



48 



THE CIVIL WAIl. 



1861. 



were all asleep in two large barns, which Colonel 
O'Kane attacked, and routed the inmates, killing 206 
and taking 100 prisoners. 

This was followed by the severe battle of Oak Hill, 
which lasted six hours. The Federals had in the 
field ten thousand men, of whom they lost in killed, 
wounded, and prisoners two thousand; the Confed- 
erates also captured six pieces of artillery and 
seven hundred stands of arms. General Lyons was 
present in person to command the Federal troops, 
while the Missourians were under Generals Slack, 
McBride, Parsons, and Rains on the left, with Her- 
bert's regiment of Louisiana volunteers and General 
Price in the center. The Missourians opened an ef- 
fective fire with their batteries, and then charged the 
Union forces. Though undrilled, undisciplined, and 
untrained, they bore themselves with conspicuous 
gallantry, routing the Federals and putting in full 
retreat Sigei's l)oasted "grand army" of Germans. 

After the battle the Confederate forces returned to 
the frontiers of Arkansas, to get themselves ready 
for their second victory, at Carthage, Mo. Here they 
were commanded by Generals Parsons, J. B. Clark, 
and Slack. The character of their equipment and 
the nature of their discipline were in painful contrast 
to the perfect preparation and gay trappings of the 
Federals, whose equipment was complete in every par- 
ticular. With old, rude field-pieces, charged with 



1861. AFFAIRS IN MISSOURI. 49 

pieces of iron, trace-cliains, and stones, they replied 
to the splendid batteries of the enemy. Their cool- 
ness and the desperation with which they fought, to- 
gether with the character of the implements which 
they used, produced such fear in the lines of the Fed- 
erals as to force General Sigel to retreat July 4, and 
their valor called from him the following merited 
tribute: " Was the like ever seen? raw recruits stand- 
ing like veterans, bidding defiance to every discharge 
of our batteries! Such material would make the 
best troops in the world." This tactician and milita- 
ry scientist looked only to the outward and artificial 
side of the soldier; he forgot that at the heart, with 
the purposes that stir it to action, is to be found the 
material for the real soldier. These brave Missou- 
rians were defending home and native land and out- 
raged law, and, consequently, to them the drilling and 
the execution of the mechanical part of a soldier's 
art were matters of secondary importance. 

The Federal general, Lyons, was left by liis own 
men dead upon this field of carnage, but his body was 
tenderly cared for by the magnanimous victors, and 
shipped to friends. 

Missouri now wheeled herself into line with the 
other Southern States, by the Legislature in session 
at Neosho passing the ordinance of secession. 

The battle of Lexington, Mo., added another star 
to the Confederate crown of victory in the West. 
4 



50 THE CIVIL WAR. 1861. 

Here were captured tliree thousand prisoners, among 
whom were Colonels Mulligan, Peabody, White, G ro- 
ver, and Yan Horn, with eighteen commissioned 
officers, besides guns and ammunition. There were 
also taken seven hundred and fifty horses and a hun- 
dred and fifty thousand dollars' worth of commissary 
stores — just what the Confederates were in great 
need of. Commenting upon this victory, General 
Price adds another laurel to the soldiers of Missouri: 
" This battle demonstrated clearly the fitness of citi- 
zen soldiery for the tedious operations of a siege." 

September 1, at a place called Blue Hills, which 
gave the name to the battle, General D. E. Atchi- 
son and Colonel Sanders attacked the Federals with 
reckless valor and daring, and drove them ten miles. 
The Confederates took a number of tents and many 
camp supplies that the Federals had left in their 
flight. The Federals received such heavy re-enforce- 
ments under General Fremont that General Price 
thought it best to fall back. The retreat was accom- 
plished successfully, especially through the consum- 
mate skill of General Jeff Thompson with his 
" swamp " brigade. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Battle of Cheat Mountain. 

RETUENING now to the East, we find matters 
still very active in the neighborhood of Cheat 
Mountain. At Seay Creek, in the Kanawha Yalley, 
General Wise had repulsed three regiments of Fed- 
erals, and was sanguine of doing a great work in the 
valley, when the disaster at Rich Mountain exposed 
his little army to such peril that he was forced to fall 
back to Lewisburg, destroying all bridges behind him. 

General Floyd surprised the Federals at breakfast 
at White Sulphur Springs, and attacked them, caus- 
ing them to stampede in all directions. He then 
strengthened his position on the Gauley. 

General Lee now repaired with re-enforcements to 
the scene of action, and early in August he arrived in 
the vicinity of Cheat Mountain and at once made his 
plans for battle; but on account of some misunder- 
standing a retreat was caused without the firing of 
a single gun. Thus having failed to dislodge the Fed- 
erals, he went to the valley to the relief of Generals 
Floyd and Wise. At first taking up his head-quarters 
with General Floyd for the purpose of examining his 

position, he proceeded thence to Sewell, where ho 

C51) 



52 THE CIVIL WAR. 1861. 

found General Wise with the Federals in front twenty 
thousand strong, in which position they remained for 
fifteen days, until General Eosecrans disappeared 
one night, much to the surprise of General Lee. 

General Lee now withdrew from Cheat Mountain 
to Gauley, leaving General T. J. Jackson behind with 
twenty-five hundred men completely at his disposal, 
with whom to do as he pleased. General Jackson 
was then attacked by the Federals, but gallantly re- 
pulsed them, his pickets holding the entire column in 
check for over an hour, so that they were misled into 
believing that there was a considerable army in the 
rear. With this idea they made an almost precipi- 
tate retreat. 

The severity of the weather now put an end to the 
campaign in Western Virginia, for awhile at least. 

General Floyd, at his own request, was sent to Cot- 
ton Mills, where he was attacked by General Rose- 
crans. He retreated, but managed not to leave his 
wounded in possession of the Federals. He was then 
transferred to Tennessee and Kentucky. 

The Federal General Stone, being persuaded that 
no important force of Confederates remained in the 
Upper Potomac region, began to cross that river Sun- 
day, October 20, at Harrison's Landing. Five com- 
. panics of Massachusetts troops under Colonel Devins 
succeeded in making a crossing. A few hours later 
Colonel Baker took command of these, with orders 



1861. BATTLE OF CHEAT MOUNTAIN. 53 

from General Stone to drive the Confederates from 
Leesburg, whose force consisted of the brigade of 
General Evans (one of the conspicuous and heroic 
actors on the bloody field of Manassas). This brig- 
ade was made up of four regiments— the Eighteenth 
Virginia, Thirteenth, Seventeenth, and Eighteenth 
Mississippi. Taking up their position on Goose 
Creek, they bravely awaited the overwhelming num- 
ber of the Federals. Lieutenant-colonel Jenifer, with 
four Mississippi companies, held the approaches to- 
ward Leesburg; while Colonel Hunter, with the Vir- 
ginians, became hotly engaged with the enemy in the 
woods. About two o'clock, seeing that the Federals 
were being re-enforced, Colonel Burt, with the Eight- 
eenth Mississippi, attacked them on the left flank, and 
Colonels Hunter and Jenifer moved against their 
front. Colonel Burt was received with such a heavy 
fire from the Federals concealed in the woods that he 
was compelled even to divide his forces in order to 
avoid a flank movement; but he was soon supported 
by the Seventeenth Mississippi, under Colonel Feath- 
erston, who came into action at a gallant double- 
quick. The battle now became general along the 
whole Confederate line, with the exception of the 
Thirteenth Mississippi, with six pieces of artillery, 
which was held in reserve. For two hours the Con- 
federates fought with their characteristic methods — 
a desperation and a valor that were satisfied with noth- 



54 THE CIVIL WAR. 1861. 

ing sliort of victory. Against this the Federals could 
not sustain themselves. They were driven back to 
the river, with the loss, of their commander, Colonel 
Baker. When Colonel Evans saw them on the re- 
treat he ordered his boys to charge. Naturally the 
retreat became a rout and a race for life on the part 
of the panic-stricken Federals in their efforts to 
reach the other bank of the river. The spectacle of 
a whole army completely beside themselves with fear, 
rolling and tumbling, pushing and scrambling down 
the steep bluffs and banks of the river, in the worst 
possible confusion, with the shrieks of the drowning 
added to the other horrors of the battle-field, was 
simply appalling. 

This defeat w^as named in the Federal Congress " a 
national calamity," and it was said that " another 
laurel was added to the chaplet of the rebellion." 
And rightly too was it a serious cause for alarm at 
the North, for the superior fighting qualities of the 
Southern soldier were being demonstrated on every 
field where he had any thing like equal terms. 

Cumberland Gap. 

To protect the mountain passes in East Tennessee 
and Kentucky, that were like open gate-ways, threat- 
ening not only those two States, but also the whole 
South, General Zollicoffer was sent, September 14, 
with seven thousand troops to Cumberland Gap. 



18G1. BATTLE OF CHEAT MOUNTAIN. 55 

To sliow that lie respected the assumed neutrality 
of the State of Kentucky more than did the Feder- 
als, he sent the following telegram to Governor Mc- 
Goffin: "The safety of Tennessee required the Con- 
federate authorities to occupy these mountain passes. 
I postponed this movement until the despotic Gov- 
ernment at Washington refused to recognize the 
neutrality of Kentucky. We have ever felt toward 
Kentucky as a twin sister; we are as one people in 
valor, kindred, sympathy, and patriotism." With this 
he also issued an order that he had come to defend 
the soil of a sister State, and that no citizen of Ken- 
tucky was to be molested in property or liberty. He 
then continued to advance toward Somerset, driving 
the Federals before him. He was opposed by a Ger- 
man general, Schoepff, with troops of like nationality, 
who was deluded into the belief that General Hardee 
was on his left flank ; consequently he performed that 
famous "wild-cat stampede," fleeing for two wdiole 
days, scattering along his course guns, knapsacks, 
and every thing that would impede men when strip- 
ping to run a race. This retreat was continued, and 
was a case of " the wicked flee when no man pursu- 
eth." 

In occupying these passes it was the purpose of the 
Federals to have means open of invading South-west 
"Virginia, getting possession of the salt-works of 
Western Virginia, and of cutting off communications 



56 THE CIVIL WAR. 1861. 

with Eiclimond and Memphis. To oppose this de- 
sign, a small force of a thousand men was raised at 
Prestonburg by Colonel Williams, but he was forced 
to retreat before the vastly superior numbers of Gen- 
eral Nelson, who boastfully had this insignificant 
skirmish heralded throughout the North as a great 
and decisive victory. 






CHAPTER V. 

Affairs in Kentucky. 

AFTER the election of Mr. Lincoln, a Union party 
was formed in Kentucky, with the purpose of 
preventing the secession of their State. Resisting all 
pressure from this quarter. Governor McGoffin re- 
fused to respond to Mr. Lincoln's call to furnish 
troops for the subjugation of the Southern States, 
which step seemed to meet with the approval of the 
majority of conservative citizens. In a short time, 
however, relations between the two extremes of opin- 
ion became very much strained. Every " States' 
rights" paper was suspended; General Buckner unit- 
ed his fortunes with the Confederacy; in complete 
defiance of law. Ex-governor Morehead, on account of 
his Southern principles, was arrested in the presence 
of his family and sent as a prisoner to Louisville. 
To avoid the same treatment, the following promi- 
nent and leading citizens were forced to flee from 
their homes: Hon. John C. Breckinridge, Ex- vice- 
president; Colonel G. ^Y. Johnson; T. B. Moore, Sec- 
retary of State; William Preston Johnson, former 
Minister to Spain; Colonel Humphrey Marshall, Ex- 
member of Congress; and Captain John H. Morgan, 

(57) 



58 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G1. 

afterward so widely celebrated on account of his dar- 
ing cavalry exploits. 

In the meantime the authorities of the State con- 
tinued to demand that the neutrality of Kentucky be 
respected; and the Legislature passed special resolu- 
tions asking General Polk — who, in the early part of 
September, had occupied Columbus — to withdraw 
from their borders. General Polk issued a procla- 
mation declaring that he would act in accordance 
with their wish if they would force the Federals to 
do likewise. This proposition was rejected by the ad- 
herents of the Federal Government, though they had 
been the first to violate the neutrality of Kentucky. 

To anticipate somewhat, it may be properly stated 
here that the sympathizers of the South, not being 
any longer able to endure the treatment which they 
were suffering at the hands of their opponents, met 
at Kussellville November 18, and on the 20th unani- 
mously adopted resolutions of secession, choosing 
George W. Johnson Governor and sending commis- 
sioners to Richmond asking for admission into the 
Confederacy. Their prayer was granted, and by the 
middle of December Kentucky was joined hand and 
heart with her sister States. 

General Polk Attacked by the Federals. 

"While engaged in finishing his fortifications at Co- 
lumbus, General Polk was attacked, on the morning 



18G1. AFFAIRS IN KENTUCKY. 59 

of November 7, by a strong force from Cairo. Hear- 
ing that General Grant was on the river with gun- 
boats and transports, and trying to land on the 
Missouri shore, six miles above Belmont, he ordered 
General Pillow to cross the river at once with four 
regiments and go to the relief of Colonel Tappan at 
Belmont. Before they were able to get well settled 
in their position the skirmishers vrere driven in, and 
it was evident that they were engaged with an enemy 
numerous enough to surround them with a line three 
deep. The Federals made several vain attempts at a 
flank movement, both against the left and the right. 
On the right they were repulsed by the determined re- 
sistance of Colonel Tappan's forces, together with the 
Thirteenth Arkansas and the Ninth Tennessee, com- 
manded by Colonel Russell; while on the left their 
defeat was due to the deadly fire of Beltzhoover's 
Battery. Colonel Beltzhoover's ammunition became 
exhausted, as did also Colonels Bell's and Wright's. 
In reply to reports to this effect General Pillow gave 
the order to charge bayonets, which was executed so 
gallantly and effectively by the whole line that the 
enemy were driven to the shelter of the woods. Here, 
how^ever, supported by a large reserve, they forced 
the Confederates back to their former position, wdio 
repeated their bayonet charge again and again, driv- 
ing the Federals back each time upon their reserves. 
Soon perceiving the utter uselessness of maintaining 



60 THE CIVIL WAR. 1861. 

such an unequal contest, General Pillow ordered the 
whole line to fall back to the river-bank. It seemed 
now that the Confederates must yield the palm of 
victory to the enemy, when, just at the proper time, 
Colonel Walker, with the Second Tennessee, crossed 
the river and came to General Pillow's support. Thus 
re-enforced, he hastened with all speed up the river, 
turning the enemy's position and getting in their rear. 
At this point he was further re-enforced by fresh 
troops, whom, with the Eleventh Louisiana, he placed 
under command of Colonel Marks. These proceeded 
at once, with the support of Colonel Russell, to 
charge the enemy in the rear, while General Cheat- 
ham took a position in sight of the shore to assist 
Colonel Marks, if necessary. The enemy now turned 
their attention to the boats, which were used in trans- 
porting our troops across the river, and opened a 
heavy fire upon them. To oppose this movement, 
Captain Smith's Battery was located on the opposite 
bank of the river. The Federals now found that 
they were in a dilemma from which it seemed diffi- 
cult to extricate themselves; General Cheatham was 
pressing them on their flank, Colonels Marks and 
Russell were making matters extremely unpleasant 
in the rear, while Smith's Artillery was thundering 
in front of them. Consequently, after but a feeble 
resistance, they broke and ran in utter confusion. 
General Polk had, in the meantime, crossed the riv- 



1862. AFFAIRS IN KENTUCKY. 61 

er, and, with the united commands, he vigorously 
pressed the pursuit until they reached the surgical 
head-quarters of the enemy, where they captured 
much-needed supplies of every character — blankets, 
clothes, provisions, wagons, horses, etc. To complete 
the confusion and dismay of the enemy, even after 
they had reached their boats they were subjected to a 
destructive fire from our troops, who lined the banks 
of the river. 

In his official report General Pillow said that no 
further evidence was needed to assure the fact that 
this small Spartan army, which withstood the con- 
stant fire of three times their number for nearly four 
hours (a large portion being out of ammunition), 
had acted with extraordinary gallantry, and that 
complete results had crowned the day. 

The Confederates lost, in killed and wounded and 
missing, 632, while the Federals sustained a loss of 
fully three times that number. Thus, all things con- 
sidered, the victory at Belmont was one of the most 
brilliant of the war. 

Death of General Zollicoffer. 

Resuming the narration of the exploits of General 
Zollicoffer in Eastern Kentucky, we find that he 
had moved his forces to Mill Springs, on Fishing 
Creek, January 1, 1862. Here General Crittenden 
assumed command. The army was in great distress 



62 THE CIVIL WAR. 1862. 

on account of want of provisions for both man and 
beast, for only one boat-load of supplies had come up 
from Nashville. The severity of bitter midwinter 
weather made their situation all the more wretched. 
However, with such a force, hardly prepared to cope 
with the enemy even on equal terms. General Critten- 
den began at midnight to charge General Thomas, 
with ten thousand men intrenched at Beech Grove. 
The battle began in real earnest on the morning of 
January 19, General Zollicoffer leading the front. 
The charge was gallantly made in the face of a gall- 
ing fire from the enemy, who were being gradually 
driven back; when General Zollicoffer, just as he had 
mounted the crest of the hill around which the battle 
raged fiercest, was shot by the Federal Colonel Fry, 
and fell back dead in the midst of his friends, 
Colonel Battle's noble regiment of Tennesseeans. 
This unfortunate affair pat a new phase upon the 
battle, by producing a depressing eifect upon the sol- 
diers, especially the Tennessee troops, by whom Gen- 
eral Zollicoffer was greatly beloved. In spite of his 
most persistent efforts. General Crittenden was forced 
to retreat to Monticello, in order to open communica- 
tion with Nashville. 

In the meantime General Albert Sidney Johnston 
had been placed in command of the Western Army, 
and his line embraced a position sixty miles below 
Louisville, on the railroad. The Federals had ad- 



1862. AFFAIRS IN KENTUCKY. 63 

vanced to Munfordville, and had succeeded in get- 
ting a portion of their forces across Green Kiver to 
Woodson ville, where they were attacked and defeated, 
December 17, 1861, by General Hindman, with a loss 
of fifty killed. 

General Johnston was forced to abandon his posi- 
tion at Bowling Green, on account of the immense 
numbers that were threatening him under General 
Buell, for it is estimated that the Federal force in 
Kentucky at this time consisted of over a hundred 
thousand, made up principally of Western men. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Fort Donelson— Permanent Organization. 

THE Confederate Congress, recognizing the impor- 
tance of the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers 
as the key to Nashville and other strong strategic 
points, made large appropriations for the construc- 
tion of floating batteries and other defenses. 

The enemy, under General Grant, moved up the 
Cumberland Eiver, and, after a gallant resistance, 
forced the brave defenders of Fort Henry to surren- 
der. He then proceeded against Fort Donelson. 
Here General Johnston had sent the best divisions of 
his troops, as both he and General Beauregard, after 
a consultation, had concluded that this was the most 
important point at which they could make their de- 
fense. 

The Battle of Fokt Donelson. 

Early on the morning of February 13 General 
Floyd, who had been stationed at Russell ville, Ky,, 
reached the scene of action. With the rising of the 
sun the booming of the guns from one of the boats 
announced the beginning of the battle, which was con- 
tinued all day, with heavy cannonading and attacks 

on several points of our lines, whicli were completely 
(C4) 



1802. FORT DONELSON — PERMANENT ORGANIZATION. 65 

repulsed, the enemy being forced back to their origi- 
nal position. Thns the strength of our line was well 
tested. 

On the following day no preparation seemed to be 
made on the part of the enemy for a renewal of their 
attack; but the activity in the neigliborhood of the 
gun-boats showed that great re-enforcements were 
coming to a force already thirty thousand strong. 

At three o'clock in the afternoon, however, having 
formed in the shape of a crescent, the fleet of the 
enemy opened fire, which was rej)lied to so vigor- 
ously that the effect of our shot* upon the iron-clads 
could be clearly seen. 

New troops by the thousands seemed to be joining 
the ranks of the enemy. Nor did their fire cease 
after dark, which kept the Confederates from a much- 
needed rest. Thus they were forced to watch the 
whole of that bitter night through, with the mercury 
ten degrees below zero, and exposed to sleet and snow. 

At a consultation held by General Floyd it was 
seen that their cause was hopeless under the existing 
circumstances, and the only course left open to them 
was to attempt to cut their way through the opposing 
lines of the enemy. Accordingly General Pillow, 
assisted by Colonel Bushrod Johnson, Colonel Bald- 
win commanding the Mississippi and Tennessee 
troops and Colonels Wharton and McCausland com- 
manding the Virginians, moved from his position 



06 THE CIVIL WAR. 1862. 

early in the morning. He found tlie Federals ready- 
to receive liim in front of tlieir camps. A stubborn 
conflict ensued, desperately f ought, with every inch of 
ground contested. Finally the enemy, fighting brave- 
ly, fell back to the Winn's Ferry Eoad, where Gen- 
eral Buckner was defending the Confederate right. 
They attacked him, and after two hours of hard 
fighting gained possession of the most advanta- 
geous part of his intrenchments. Thus, after a nine 
hours' struggle, marked on both sides by a desperate 
courage that showed itself in the number of the dead 
scattered over the field, the Federals were virtually 
in possession of all points of advantage and impor- 
tance. With only thirteen thousand men, weakened 
by exposure in the trenches, and worn out fcy the hard 
fighting, it seemed utterly hopeless for the Confeder- 
ates to renew the conflict. Therefore surrender was 
agreed upon; but Generals Floyd and Pillow both re- 
fused to surrender either their own persons or their 
commands, so the unpleasant duty devolved upon 
General Buckner, who was offered terms by General 
Grant, in reply to which he wrote: "The distribution 
of the forces under my command compel me, not- 
withstanding the brilliant success of yesterday, to 
accept the ungenerous and unchivalrous terms you 
propose." The loss on the side of the enemy was con- 
jectured to be about five thousand, and the Confed- 
erate loss about one-third of tliat number. 



18g2. roet donelson— permanent organization. g7 

The Confederates Evacuate Nashville. 

Immediately on receiving news of tlie fall of Don- 
elson General Johnston saw that Nashville could not 
be defended without the destruction of the city. 
AVhen his purpose became known a wild panic en- 
sued on the part of the citizens to get out of reach of 
the advancing enemy. The State Legislature, with 
Governor Harris in possession of the documents and 
valuables of the State, fled to Memphis. A great 
quantity of stores and provisions were lost, though 
Generals Floyd and Forrest remained and endeav- 
ored to ship away as much as possible, that it might 
not fall into the hands of the enemy. Even large 
numbers of the wounded had to be left in the hospi- 
tal, but these were tenderly cared for by the loyal and 
devoted women of Nashville and the patriotic men. 
Thus, with the enemy present at their doors, devo- 
tion to the principles of secession and love for the 
South w^ere intensified, and any lukewarmness van- 
ished and gave place to an earnest enthusiasm for 
their cause. With a noble generosity, and though 
they knew not how they themselves were to fare in 
future, they entertained the soldiers of the Confed- 
eracy, filling their haversacks and bidding them god- 
speed in their battle for right. 

General Johnston meanwhile had reached Mur- 
f reesboro, and was resting the main body of his army 
there. 



68 THE CIVIL WAE. 18C2. 

A Permanent Organization 
was effected by tlie Confederate Government on the 
22d of February, 1862, when affairs did not look so 
bright for the young Government as in the begin- 
ning. It seemed almost impossible, as President Da- 
vis himself declared, to furnish adequate protection 
at all points, both on land and sea; but the best pos- 
sible measures under the circumstances were being 
taken. But the financial aspect of the war was at 
least encouraging, for there was no floating debt, the 
credit of the Government was unimpaired with the 
people, and the total expenditure for the year — one 
hundred and seventy million dollars — was one-third 
less than that expended by the Federal Congress. 
Moreover, the recent reverses had a tendency to 
quicken the energies of the authorities so as to pro- 
duce vigorous and active measures, among which was 
the " Conscript Bill." The farmers of the country 
were also urged to decrease their plant of cqtton and 
put into the soil other things more necessary to the 
sustenance of man and beast. 

The confiscation of property by the Federal author- 
ities, their imprisonment and bad treatment of citi- 
zens — all had a tendency, while it exasperated the 
people, to intensify their devotion to the Confederacy 
and to strengthen the energy of their resistance to 
the Federal power. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Affairs on the Water. 

AFTER the abandonment of Columbus by the 
Confederates, the defense of Island Number 
Ten— situated in a bend of the Mississippi, thirty 
miles in length, near the towns of New Madrid and 
Point Pleasant, Mo.— was intrusted to General 
Beauregard. This island was looked upon as the 
chief barrier against the Federals entering the South- 
ern Mississippi. It was considered thoroughly im- 
pregnable, having an immense swamp on the Missouri 
side and on the other side a lake several miles wide. 

On the 12th of October the submerged ram, the 
" Manassas," made an attack upon the Federal squad- 
ron near the mouth of the Mississippi River, and 
succeeded in sinking the " Preble " and driving the 
others out of the river into the gulf. 

A Confederate Naval Victory at Hampton Roads. 

The Confederate squadron in the James River was 
commanded by Franklin Buchanan. The fleet con- 
sisted of the "Virginia," which was the remodeled 
"Merimac" that had been partially destroyed; the 
steamer "Patrick Henry," twelve guns; the steamer 

(09) 



70 . THE CIVIL WAH. • 1862. 

"Jamestown," two guns; and the gun-boats " Teazer," 
"Beaufort," and "Raleigh." With these he moved 
out to Newport News to offer battle to the enemy. 
Before going into the engagement Captain Buchanan 
addressed his men as follows: "My men, you are 
about to face the enemy. You shall have no reason 
to complain of fighting at close quarters. Remem- 
ber that you fight for your homes and your country. 
You see those ships; you must sink them; I need not 
ask you to do it; I know you will do it." 

The Federal ship " Congress " occupied a po- 
sition below the batteries, at Newport News, while 
the " Cumberland " was just opposite them. With a 
determination to sink the " Cumberland " with the 
"Virginia," Captain Buchanan steamed straight to- 
ward her, complimenting the " Congress " with a 
broadside as he passed, which was returned, but 
w^ithout producing any damage. The shore batteries, 
together with both ships, now concentrated their fire 
upon the " Virginia," which kept straight on, raking 
the " Cumberland " fore and aft with the discharge 
of her guns, and striking her bow below the water- 
line with such terrible effect that in fifteen minutes 
the waters of the ocean rolled over the flag of the 
"Cumberland," that had been kept floating to the 
last. The " Virginia " did not rest with this success, 
but went to serve the " Congress " similarly. On ac- 
count of the shallowness of the water, she could 



18G2. AFFAIFiS ON THE WATER. 71 

make but slow progress, her keel being in the mud. 
However, she managed to get in position above the 
James River Batteries, though she had to endure a 
second time the fire of the enemy. In making this 
movement the Federals were considerably elated, in 
that they thought the Confederate " terror" had sus- 
tained such injuries as to force her to withdraw from 
the contest. But when she turned a terrible broad- 
side upon the " Congress," producing death and de- 
struction, dismay and confusion was the result. A 
flag of truce was immiediately run up at the mast- 
head, and the commander of the "Beaufort" was 
ordered by Captain Buchanan to go and take pos- 
session of her, with the officers as prisoners, but to 
allow the crew to land. He also ordered the ship 
burned. 

The prisoners on board the "Beaufort" requested 
that they be allowed to transfer their wounded from 
the "Congress," which request was granted; but, vio- 
lating their plighted honor, they never returned. 
An attempt was now made to burn the " Congress," 
which was prevented by the fire from the batteries on 
the shore. At this failure Captain Buchanan opened 
upon her with hot shot, and about midnight the citi- 
zens of Norfolk wore awakened by the explosion of 
her magazine, and all that was left of the " Con- 
gress " were the scattered fragments floating upon 
the sea. 



72 THE CIVIL ViAIl. 18G2. 

Captain Buchanan having been severely wounded, 
Lieutenant Catesby Jones assumed command, and at 
eight o'clock the next morning the " Virginia " sailed 
out to engage the new Federal iron-clad, the " Mon- 
itor." The latter had the advantage in smallness 
of size, and consequently of lighter draft and rapid- 
ity of movement. For two hours these two vessels 
poured a terrible fire into each other. Once the " Vir- 
ginia " ran aground, and, being under the double 
fire of both the "Monitor" and the "Minnesota," 
seemed to be in desperate straits; but the crew 
managed to extricate her, and again turned her bat- 
teries upon the enemy. After having disabled the 
" Minnesota," and twice silenced the fire of the " Mon- 
itor," she put back to Norfolk. 

These exploits of the "Virginia" created great ex- 
citement, both at the North and in Europe, and the 
immediate effect was that within five days after their 
defeat at Hampton Eoads the Federal Government 
had appropriated fifteen million dollars for the build- 
ing of iron-clads. 



^ 




Battle betv.-con the "Monitor" and the " ?Ierrimao 



(72) 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Generals Van Dorn and Sibley in the West. 

AT the close of the year 1861 General Price had 
occupied Si^ringfield with the purpose of be- 
ing within reach of supplies and of protecting that 
part of the State. In the latter part of January, 1862, 
the Federals were massing large numbers — first at 
Eolla and afterward at Lebanon. Perceiving that 
their purpose was to move against him with largely 
superior forces, he requested aid from the divisions in 
Arkansas. According to expectation, on the 12tli of 
February the Federals attacked him, forcing a retreat 
from Springfield. The enemy followed in close pur- 
suit, so that the retreat to Cross Hollows, Ark., was 
virtually a running fight of five days, for the Confed- 
erates had to make their way through by repulsing 
the attacks of the enemy at every point. 

General Van Dorn was appointed by President 
Davis to take command of the forces in the West. 
Consequently, hearing of General Price's retreat from 
Springfield, he moved from his own position at Po- 
cahontas, Ark., and on the 3d of March took charge 
of the united forces of Generals Price and McCiil- 

lough. 

(73) 



74 the civil war. 1802. 

Battle of Elk Horn. 

The Federals, twenty thousand strong, under Gen- 
erals Sigel and Curtis, were resting at Sugar Creek, 
waiting for further re-enforcements. Having been 
joined by General Pike with his command of Indian 
troops, on the 4th of March General Yan Dorn, with 
a force sixteen thousand strong, took up his march 
in the direction of Sagar Creek for the purpose of at- 
tacking the Federals. 

On the morning of the 7th the battle began, and by 
eleven o'clock it was being fought in real earnest, and 
by two o'clock in the afternoon the Confederates Avere 
on the point of a complete and decisive victory, when 
both Generals Mcintosh and McCullough were killed. 
Notwithstanding this irreparable loss and the con- 
fusion necessarily resulting to the soldiers from 
the death of their commanders. General Yan Dorn 
continued to press the enemy, so that when darkness 
jDut an end to the battle he had gained possession of 
their intrenchments, together with a large amount of 
commissary stores. Having recuperated themselves 
during the night, the enemy renewed the contest on 
the morning of the 8th. General Yan Dorn contin- 
ued the fight until after nine o'clock, when he began 
to Vv'ithdraw his forces in the direction of his sup- 
plies. The enemy attempting to follow were checked 
at once, and the retreat was conducted with the great- 
est success, and besides the Confederates carried 



18G2. VAN DORN AND SIBLEY IN THE AVLST. 75 

away with them 300 prisouers, four cannons, and three 
baggage - wagons. They lost about GOO in killed 
and wounded, while the Federal loss is conjectured 
to have been fully double that number, though it is 
not of&cialiy known. When the character of the 
equipment and training of the two armies is relative- 
ly considered, the success of the Confederates was 
all the more a matter of congratulation, for they were 
poorly armed with old shotguns and rifles, and com- 
pletely without military drill, while the Federals 
were well disciplined and furnished with the latest 
improved weapons. 

* 

In the Far West. 

After a long march of nearly tw^o hundred miles 
from Arizona, General Sibley, with two thousand 
three hundred troops, found himself in the neighbor- 
hood of Fort Craig, in which were Union troops to 
the number of six thousand — one thousand five hun- 
dred American soldiers and about five thousand Mex- 
icans. Having crossed the Rio Grande River three 
miles above the fort, that portion of his troops- about 
two hundred and fifty in number — under Colonel 
Pryor first came in contact with the enemy. This 
division alone for over an hour sustained their inces- 
sant fire until the rest of the troops came up. The 
enemy then moved their whole line forward, but were 
driven back. With a second attack, however, they 



76 THE CIVIL WAR. 1862. 

forced the Confederates to retreat and take up a new 
position. Thinking that they had won the day, the 
enemy moved their battery across the river, which 
was no sooner done than the Confederates charged 
them, and with the assistance of Teel's Battery drove 
them in great confusion from their guns, forcing them 
to cross the river. In this battle of Valverde (March 
21) our forces lost 38 killed and 120 wounded, while 
the enemy gave their loss as 300 killed, 400 wounded, 
and 2,000 missing. The Confederates continued their 
victorious march, forcing the Federals to evacuate 
both Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and to retreat to 
Fort Union, a strong ' fortification sixty miles north- 
east of Santa Fe. 



CHAPTER IX, 

Island No. Ten— Shiloh— New Orleans. 

ON the 15th of March the Federal fleet of gun- 
boats, -Qncler the command of Flag-officer Foote, 
began the bombardment of Island No. Ten, which had 
been fortified with great skill by General Beauregard. 
An incessant and ceaseless cannonading was kejjt up 
between the gun-boats and the batteries until Aj3ril 
8 without giving any convincing sign of victory 
to either side; but the peoi)le of the South were 
strengthened by daily reports from the scene of ac- 
tion that it was absolutely impossible for the Federal 
forces to take the fort. Under these circumstances, 
on the 5th General Beauregard left to take charge of 
operations on the Tennessee River, and the command 
of the island devolved upon General MaCall, who 
allowed the enemy to construct a canal twelve miles 
long across the peninsula at New Madrid. This ca- 
nal gave them possession of the river below the island. 
Then, in order to avoid surrender, with the infantry 
and Stewart's Battery, General MaCall, on the night 
of April 6, managed to reach the Tennessee shore, 
leaving in the hands of the enemy seventy cannons, 
large quantities of ammunition, the floating batteries, 

and four steamers. 

(77) 



78 THE CIVIL WAR. 1862. 

The Geeat Battle of Shiloh. 

Ill massing all of liis forces at Curiiitli General 
Beauregard's purpose was to cut off tlie enemy's com- 
munication between the South and East. Here he 
assembled a magnificent army — the very flower and 
chivalry of the South. General Johnston moved from 
Murfreesboro and joined him here; also two divisions 
of General Polk's forces at Columbus, together with 
several regiments of troops from Louisiana and a 
force from Mobile; consequently few battle-fields of 
the South witnessed such a gathering of men, both as 
to their number, the quality of the troops, and the 
character of their discipline. 

General Grant occupied a position at Pittsburg 
Landing, awaiting the arrival of General BueJl, who 
was rapidly hastening from Nashville to join him. 
To strike the enemy at once, and thereby prevent the 
effectiveness of this junction by a victory before it 
could be accomplished, was the purpose of General 
Beauregard. In keeping with his lAan, he began the 
disposition of his troops on Thursday, the 3d of April, 
expecting to make the attack on Saturday, but the 
condition of the roads was such as to make progress 
so sloAV that one day was lost in the preparation, and 
a fatal day it was! After skirmishing somewhat late 
Saturday evening, the great battle was opened early 
Sunday morning, April 6, by General Hardee advanc- 
ing against the camp of the enemy and taking them 



18(32. ISLAND NO. TEN— SIIILOH — NEW ORLEANS. 79 

by surprise, finding them undressed and in the prep- 
aration of breakfast. Plowever, they quickly formed 
to meet our forces, which were advancing in three 
lines, with General Hardee commanding the front. 
General Bragg the center, and General Polk the rear. 
With the driving in of the pickets, a sublime artillery 
duel began the work of death, and the coolness and 
splendid composure of the raw recruits of the Con- 
federates under this test gave a prophecy of the 
magnificent courage which they displayed on that 
memorable day. Rising from the ground upon which 
they were lying that the discharges of the artillery 
might pass over, they rushed forward, crashing ev- 
ery thing before them with the force of a hurricane. 
Broken in ranks, the enemy rallied behind trees and 
in the underbrush, only to be again repulsed and 
driven back. The scenery is described as follows: 
" Far up in the air shells burst into flames like shat- 
tered stars, and passed away in little clouds of white 
vapor; while others filled the air with a shrill scream, 
and burst far in the rear. All along the line the faint 
smoke of the musketry rose lightly, while from the 
mouth of the cannon sudden gusts of intense white 
smoke burst up all around." 

The attack of the Confederates was compared by 
General Beauregard, in his official report of the bat- 
tle, to an "Alpine avalanche." Inspiring examples 
of personal valor displayed by general and field offi- 



80 THE CIVIL WAR. 



18G2. 



cers made the Confederate soldiers invincible. At 
half-past two General Johnston, commander-in-chief 
of the Confederate forces, fell mortally wounded. 
Biding up to him. Governor Harris, who was a volun- 
teer aid, asked if he was badly hurt, to which the 
dying hero replied: " Yes; and I fear mortally." Ho 
fell from his horse, and soon expired. This sad af- 
fair was prudently kept from the army. The Con- 
federates still continued to push the enemy to the 
Tennessee Eiver, and at six o'clock in the evening 
the last position was carried. The fruits of this vic- 
tory were great. The Confederates were in posses- 
sion of all the encampments of the enemy between 
Owl and Lick Kivers. On Sunday General Beaure- 
gard established his head-qaarters at the little church 
at Shiloh. The soldiers slept on their arms. The 
situation of both armies was critical, but General 
Grant was relieved by the glistening bayonets of 
Buell across the river. On seeing them he was heard 
to remark to one of his officers: "To-morrow they 
will be exhausted, and then we'll give it to them with 
fresh troops." General Buell advanced, and was 
hailed to the field of slaughter with cheers. Tlie 
battle again began to rage with fury; hour by hour 
the terrible struggle continued. With fresh troops 
they constantly thinned the ranks of our worn-out 
soldiers. To avert further sacrifice of human life 
General Beauregard determined to withdraw, since 



1SGl\ island no. ten — SniLOH — NEW ORLEANS. 81 

it was impossible to conteucl against such heavy re- 
enforcements — all fresh troops. Approaching Gen- 
eral Breckinridge, he said: "General Breckinridge, 
it may be you will have to sacrifice your life; this 
retreat must not be a rout: you must hold the enemy 
if it takes your last man." " Your orders shall be 
executed," said the chivalrous Breckinridge. *'Our 
poor boys are weary and hungry, yet we can trust 
them." They stood guard, and closely watched the 
enemy, who decided not to try the contest again for 
awhile, so badly had they been whipped; for they had 
lost nearly all of their artillery, over three thousand 
prisoners, including a division commander (General 
Prentiss), several brigade commanders, an immense 
supply of subsistence and ammunition, and a large 
amount of means of transportation. Against the Con- 
federates were engaged the commands of Generals 
Prentiss, Sherman, Hurlburt, Smith, and McCler- 
nand — all told, forty-five thousand finely equipped 
men. The Confederate forces consisted of thirty- 
eight thousand. From their almost reckless daring, 
the Confederates suffered much in the loss of officers. 
General Gladden, of South Carolina, fell mortally 
wounded; also Governor George W. Johnson, of Ken- 
tucky, while engaged in the thickest of the battle; 
General Bray had two horses shot from under him; 
General Breckinridge was twice struck; Major-gen- 
eral Hardee had his coat torn by minie-balls; Gen- 
6 



82 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G2. 

eral Clieatliam received one in the shoulder; General 
Bushrod Johnson was wounded in the side; Colonel 
Adams, of Louisiana, Colkit Williams, of Memphis, 
and General William B. Bate, of Tennessee, received 
severe injuries; and Colonel Blythe, of Mississippi, 
was among the killed. Our loss in this terrible 
slaughter was 10,699, while the Federal loss was 
15,000. General Beauregard retiied to Corinth as 
a strategic point, where Generals Yan Dorn and 
Price united their forces with his. 

Fall of New Orleans. 

New Orleans was considered impregnable. The 
forts of Jackson and St. Philips were only looked 
upon as outer lines of defense. The city was occu- 
pied by a large force under General Lovell, and in 
its harbor was a fleet consisting of twelve gun-boats, 
one iron-clad steamer, and the famous ram "Manas- 
sas." The enemy's fleet engaged was forty-six sail, 
carrying two hundred and eighty-six guns and twen- 
ty-one mortars, the whole under the command of 
Admiral Farragut. On the 24th of April the Federal 
fleet opened fire on the boats, which was vigorously 
returned. In one hour several of their boats suc- 
ceeded in passing the forts, the first one having our 
"night signal" flying, which allowed her to pass the 
Confederate batteries unmolested. On receiving the 
news the whole city was thrown into intense excite- 




Destruction of Cotton at the Taking of New Orleans. 



18G2. ISLAND NO. TEN— BHILOH -NEW ORLEANS. 83 

ment. The conflict between the two fleets was of a 
dreadful character. The Confederates fought with 
desperation against the overwhelming numbers until 
their vessels were driven on shore and burned by 
their commanders. The " Manassas " was sunk, and 
the great iron-clad, "Louisiana," was not in good 
Avorking order. General Lovell withdrew his army 
to save the city from destruction. The evacuation 
was begun April 24. As soon as the Federal fleet 
came in sight of the city the work of destruction be^ 
gan. For five miles along the river on the levee the 
cotton was piled and burned. Great ships and steam- 
ers wrapped in fire floated down the river. Fifteen 
thousand bales of cotton were consumed. The city 
was left under charge of Mayor Monroe. The people 
were heart-broken when General Butler took posses- 
sion May 1. 



CHAPTER X. 

Gallant Defense of Richmond. 

TUENING now for a brief glance at civil affairs, 
the Government at Washington— exasperated by 
the prolongation of a war which they thought they 
would be able to end in a few weeks, astonished at the 
success of Confederate arms, and alarmed at Mac- 
Clellan's failure to take Richmond; yielding to the 
popular clamor — determined upon extreme measures. 
Consequently the Secretary of War issued instruc- 
tipns to the commanding generals to seize upon any 
and all private property, and to make complete use 
of it, without any compensation whatever. 

At the South the Government began to despair of 
foreign recognition. In fact, the disaster at New 
Orleans put an end to all their hopes in this respect. 
The rapidly increasing numbers of the enemy, 
drawn from every State in Europe, made necessary 
a change in the manner of recruiting troops. There- 
fore, in May, 1862, the conscript law was passed; 
which — while it created a considerable amount of op- 
position among the people, inasmuch as they consid- 
ered it a reflection upon themselves — reorganized the 
army and furnished a regular, systematic method of 

filling the depleted ranks. 

(84) 



1862. gallant defense of kichmond. 85 

Kernstown— Jackson Kepulsed. 

On the 23cl of March we find the ever active Jack- 
son attacking the Federals at Kernstown, a place near 
Winchester, Va., with about six thousand troops, 
among which was Captain McLaughlin's Battery, 
with Colonel Ashby's Cavalry. The battle continued 
from four o'clock in the afternoon until darkness set 
in, when General Jackson fell, back to Cedar Creek, 
having sustained a loss of one hundred in killed 
and wounded. Of this retreat the Federal General 
Shields said: "Such was the gallantry of the Con- 
federates and their high state of discipline that at no 
time during the retreat did they give way to panic." 

With the Federal forces enveloping HicLmond, 
both from the land and from the river, vigorous and 
active operations on the part of the Confederates now 
became necessary. But their anxiety from the direc- 
tion of the water was relieved somewhat by the brill- 
iant repulse of the enemy's gun-boats, in their attack 
upon the batteries at Drewry's Bluff, which were un- 
der the command of Captain Farrand. Here, May 
15, they were driven back with great loss of life. 

Jackson's Successes in the Valley. 

To draw off, if possible, the overwhelming concen- 
tration of forces which was taking place immediately 
around the city General Jackson was sent into the 
Valley of Virginia, with a small division, and he im- 



86 THE CIVIL WAR. 1862. 

mediately began that series of wonderful military 
exploits that have placed him in the front rank of 
earth's great captains. Consequently, on May 8, he 
proceeded to attack General Milroy, with twelve 
thousand troops, at McDowell. Late in the after- 
noon Jackson — -outnumbered thrice by the enemy — 
began the contest, which was decisively ended by the 
irresistible charge of Johnson's Brigade (Virginia 
Volunteers and the Twelfth Georgia Eegiment), and 
just at the going down of the sun the Federals fled 
in complete confusion from the field. This was a 
costly victory to elackson, in that he lost fully three 
hundred and fifty, killed and wounded. The enemy 
are conjectured to have lost something in the neigh- 
borhood of seven hundred. 

With characteristic energy, he did not wait for the 
Federals to move against himself, but with rapid 
marches he astounded the Federal General Banks 
by falling upon that portion of his foi'ces stationed 
at Front lioyal, and taking a quantity of artillery 
and fourteen hundred prisoners, May 23. General 
Banks, thoroughly alarmed, fled toward Winchester, 
and was further frightened by Jackson striking his 
retreating column in the rear. May 24. However, 
the Federal forces managed to reach Winchester, 
only to be again struck, on the 25th, by their terrible 
enemy. So completely were they demoralized that 
they hardly made any resistance, and only succeeded 



18G2. GALLANT DEFENSE OF RICHMOND. 87 

in escaping by a superior running ability, which the 
Federal commander virtually admits in his report, 
when he says: "Pursuit by the enemy was prompt 
and vigorous; but our movements ivere rapid.'" These 
victories were very profitable to the Confederates, in 
that they only lost a few men and captured four 
thousand prisoners and a vast quantity of supplies. 

Jackson Defeats the Federals at Port Eepublic. 

Retaining possession of his booty. General Jack- 
son fell back from Winchester between the two forces 
of Fremont and Shields — the former numbering 
twenty thousand and the latter ten thousand. He 
thence directed his march toward Port Republic, and 
on reaching this place he was attacked by Fremont 
on the morning of Sunday, the 8th of June, while 
Shields's Division was coming upon the other bank 
(east) of the Shenandoah River. Thus, so to speak, 
between two fires, he left that portion of his troops 
under General Ewell to engage Fremont, while, with 
the remainder, he kept Shields on the other side of 
the river. 

Holding a superior position, and displaying a re- 
markably good judgment in the management of the 
fight, when night came it was found that General 
Ewell had driven the Federals back, with a loss of 
two thousand in killed and wounded, while his own 
loss was less than two hundred. 



88 THE CIVIL WAR. 1862. 

Under cover of darkness Jackson moved his forces 
across North River, leaving only a few behind to 
prevent Fremont from following him immediately. 
Therefore, early ^londay morning he began his at- 
l.ick on the enemy, who were waiting to receive him 
on the east bank of the Shenandoah. At first Gen- 
eral Jackson could only engage the Federals with a 
portion of his forces, as the rest had not arrived from 
Port Republic. So well directed was the fire of the 
enemy that for a time it seemed that our men could 
not stand its volleys of death, which were then fast 
thinning their ranks; but fresh troops from Port Re- 
public were rapidly coming to their assistance. More- 
over, General Taylor, with the Louisiana Brigade, 
surprised the enemy by coming out from the woods 
upon them, and charging right upon the mouths of 
their cannon. The whole line of the enemy now 
gave way and broke and fled in disorder, while the 
Confederates pursued for twelve miles, taking five 
hundred prisoners. Our loss was considerable, and 
among the dead was the brave and chivalrous Ashby, 
who, after his second horse ^\Fis killed under him, was 
leading his devoted Virginians on foot, when he was 
shot, with these words of command on his lips: " Men, 
cease firing; charge, for God's sake charge! " 

Thus, having swept the enemy completely from the 
valley, Jackson retired to Brown's Gap to rest his 
victorious but tired legions for a few days. 



1862. gallant defense of richmond. 89 

Activities on the Chickahominy. 

The north was now straining every energy for the 
capture of Kichmond, and had put under the com- 
mand of General MacClellan a magnificently equipi^ed 
army, which was trying to encircle the city with its 
lines. By the 30th of May General Johnston found 
the enemy in front of him, on the Chickahominy 
itiver, so he determined to attack them the next day 
at dawn. But for some reason General Huger, who 
had been ordered to support Generals Longstreet and 
Hill, failed to appear; which delay kept the two latter 
waiting until two o'clock in the afternoon, when they 
opened the battle without his expected assistance. 
D. H. Hill's brave troops charged nobly forward, 
]3enetrating the enemy's camp and driving them from 
each new line of intrenchments, behind which they 
would make repeated stands when re-enforced by 
fresh troops. When night put an end to the contest, 
while the victory was thoroughly complete in this 
quarter, the enemy having been driven for two miles, 
yet it was found that they had managed to hold their 
position on the right; but there was every indication 
that darkness only saved them from the same defeat 
which their line suffered at other points. 

In this battle our loss was a little over four thou- 
sand. To compensate for this, the enemy lost eight 
thousand men, ten pieces of artillery, and six thou- 
sand muskets. 



90 THE CIVIL WAK. 1862. 

General Johnston having been wounded, the com- 
mand of the Confederate forces for the defense of 
Richmond devolved npon General Lee. 

On the morning of June 1 the enemy made an at- 
tack upon our lines, but after some hard fighting were 
repulsed with considerable loss. 

Mechanicsville— Malvern Hill. 

The enemy had so posted and arranged their forces 
along the course of the Chickahominy that their line 
extended fully twenty miles on both sides of this 
stream, with the purpose of threatening Eichmond 
with a siege. 

That series of splendid battles along this now cele- 
brated little stream was begun by General Jackson, 
Thursday, June 26, driving a portion of the enemy 
from the north bank, near the Brooke Turnpike. 

General A. P. Hill had crossed the river at Meadow 
Bridge; and at Mechanicsville, without waiting for 
General Branch, who was trying to join him, he 
hurled his column of fourteen thousand men against 
the enemy, who resisted stubbornly until night pat 
an end to the conflict, when they retreated down the 
stream to Powhite Swamp. 

On Friday, with General A. P. Hill in the center, 
and Generals Longstreet and D. H. Hill coming 
down the Chickahominy, and General Jackson to- 
w^ard the left at some distance, an advance movement 



1862. GALLANT DEFENSE OF lUCHMOND. 91 

was made against the enemy. The Confederates 
rushed furiously to the attack, and by eight o'clock 
in the evening they had succeeded in pushing the 
shattered forces of the enemy from the north to the 
south side of the Chickahominy. 

A feature of this day's fight worthy of relating in 
detail was the brilliant assault of General A. P. Hill 
upon that portion of the Federals stationed at 
Gaines's Mills. The fortifications at this point Avere 
strong and well constructed, so that the enemy were 
able- to resist his repeated attacks until he was sup- 
ported by General Pickett's Brigade, from General 
Longstreet's Division. Even with these, matters 
were in doubt until Whiting's Division made a mas- 
terly " double-quick " charge, and. by superior valor, 
drove the enemy from defenses which they ought to 
have been able to maintain against almost any force. 

Thus, having been defeated at almost all their 
strongholds on the north bank, with communications 
with Washington cut off, the Chickahominy barring 
their way in front, Generals Longstreet, Magruder, 
and Huger pressing close upon their rear, it seemed 
that escape for the enemy was hopeless. HoAvever, 
on Sunday morning it was discovered that they had 
deserted their fortifications in confusion, and had 
massed their forces five miles north-east of Darby- 
town, at a place known as Frazier's Farm. Finding 
them in this position, on Monday the forces of Gen- 



92 THE CIVIL WAR. 



1862. 



erals Longstreet and Hill moved forward unsupport- 
ed by a single battery of artillery, while the enemy 
received them with a terrible fire from both infantry 
and artillery. With as brilliant a courage as had 
ever illustrated the annals of any war, the Confeder- 
ates continued their advance in the midst of a perfect 
storm of shot and shell, gradually driving the Feder- 
als back, until by half -past eight in the evening they 
were in possession of their guns and fortifications. 
Darkness did not check the victorious advance of the 
Confederates, for they still continued to press the 
enemy until the latter were heavily re-enforced. 
From their hard struggle of the day the Confeder- 
ates were already tired and worn out. Consequently 
they slowly retreated before these fresh troops. AVith 
cheers the now exultant enemy followed them; but 
once more, with knightly courage, the Confederates 
gathered together their flagging energies, and beat 
the overconfident Federals back. At eleven o'clock 
General Magruder's Division arrived, and occupied 
the battle-field, giving General Hill's exhausted he- 
roes an opportunity for a much-needed rest. 

On Tuesday the Federals again took up their re- 
treat, and were followed by General Alagruder, who 
came up with them strongly intrenched on Carter's 
Farm. Just one hour later he attacked them; but 
after repeated charges in the very face of death it- 
self, both from the guns of the enemy in front and 



1862. GALLANT DEFENSE OF RICHMOND. 93 

from the huge shells that were sent from their gun- 
boats in the river, two miles distant, he was forced to 
fall back in the darkness, giving the Federals a chance 
to continue their retreat through the swamps. 

In this battle, known as Malvern Hill, the Confed- 
erates added another page to their glorious record for 
courage and endurance by a frightful loss of life. 



CHAPTER XI. 

A Series of Important Events. 

JUST when the two great armies in Northern Vir- 
ginia were marshaling their forces for the great 
conflicts on the Chickahominy, further South an in- 
spiring victory was gained by the Confederates. At 
Secessionville, on James Island, near Charleston, S. 
C, a large force of the enemy made an attack on the 
intrenchments of Colonel J. G. Lamar. Three times 
they charged the works, beginning at four o'clock on 
the morning of June 16, but each time they were 
driven back with great loss, and by ten o'clock they 
retired in great confusion, leaving behind them four 
hundred killed and wounded and prisoners. 

After Shiloh, General Beauregard, with forty-seven 
thousand troops, had intrenched himself at Corinth, 
Miss., where he tried in vain to get the ninety thou- 
sand of the enemy to attack him. Failing in this, on 
the morning of the 30th of May he evacuated Corinth, 
and successfully retreated to Baldwin; thence on the 
7th of June he moved his forces to Tupelo, a more 
advantageous position. 

The enemy continued their successes on the Mis- 

sissipppi River by taking Memphis, Tenn., June G. 
(94) 



18G2. A SERIES OF IMPORTANT EVENTS. 95 

Then they turned their attention to Yicksburg, Miss., 
but here their navy, hitherto invincible, met an un- 
expected repulse. After a siege of six weeks, during 
which time they threw twenty-five thousand shells 
into the city, they abandoned their fruitless efforts 
against it. 

Between the 4th and 28th of July General John 
Morgan effected that famous raid of his which re- 
flected so much credit upon the prowess of Southern 
cavalry. Setting out from Knoxville, Tenn., with 
rangers from Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee, he 
pushed his forces right into the midst of a country 
infested on all sides by the enemy, creating the great- 
est consternation and fear, taking from them seven- 
teen of the Kentucky towns that had fallen into their 
possession, capturing a large number of prisoners 
with three thousand stands of arms at Lebanon, Ky., 
and then returning to his original starting-place with 
a loss of less than one hundred men. 

With this brief summary of military operations in 
the West, attention is again turned to those ever in- 
teresting scenes in Virginia which have made every 
foot of this historic old Commonwealth a battle- 
ground and a Confederate victory, through which the 
military student of all after times may find illustrated 
the highest ideals of his art and the loftiest examples 
of soldierly courage and endurance. On the 23d of 
July General Pope signalized his transfer from the 



96 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G2. 

"West to tlie Army of Northern Virginia by issuing an 
order to the effect that all citizens within his lines 
who would not take the oath to the Federal Govern- 
ment should be considered spies, and as such should 
be subjected to the extremest penalties of military 
laws; and that any one who had violated this oath 
should be shot and liis i)roperty confiscated. A fur- 
ther order, equally cruel in its provisions, was issued. 
The purpose of this law was to hold certain prom- 
inent citizens as hostages, to be shot in case any Fed- 
eral soldier should be killed by the so-called " bush- 
whackers." In other words, should any Southern 
citizen^ in exercising the sacred prerogatives of his 
manhood, attempt to defend the threshold of his 
home against the robber or the assassin, and in this 
attempt should slay the violator of his household 
gods, then his friend and neighbor, in the hands of 
the enemy, would pay the penalty with his life. 

Pope now took up his line of march toward the in- 
terior of Virginia, and succeeded in penetrating to 
a point as far as ten miles east of Port Republic. 
Against this movement General Jackson was sent. 
On hearing that the latter had crossed the Rapidan, 
Pope sent General Banks to put a check upon him. 
On the morning of August 12 General Ewell's Di- 
vision moved forward and took a position at Culpep- 
per Court-house, and at twelve o'clock they opened 
upon the enemy with their artillery. At four o'clock 



18G2. A SERIES OP IMPOETANT EVENTS. 97 

ill the afternoon the battle was begun in real earnest 
by the attack of General Early's Brigade upon the 
right flank of the enemy. The brave General Win- 
der perished as he was leading Jackson's Division 
into action. The enemy now took the aggressive by 
charging through an open corn-field with their cav- 
alry, which joroduced a temporary confusion; but the 
Confederates soon recovered themselves, and turned 
such an effective fire upon thein that many a horse 
went back riderless to the Federal lines, followed by 
the remainder of the cavalry in the greatest, confu- 
sion. For two hours the battle raged, victory inclin- 
ing first to one side, then to the other, until the dark- 
ness of the night began to thrown its black mantle 
over a scene fraught with more than the usual amount 
of horrors that characterize a contest in which men 
strive with each other in all the bitterness of a deadly 
struggle, when the Federals broke and took to the 
shelter of the woods, leaving the Confederates in pos- 
session of the sanguinary field of Cedar Mountain, 
upon which were nearly two thousand Federal dead 
and Avounded and six hundred of the Confederates. 
But the Confederates also had in their possession five 
hundred prisoners, one thousand five hundred stands 
of arms, one dozen wagon-loads of ammunition, two 
Napoleon guns, and a large amount of excellent new 
clothing. 

The Federal Government now felt that there was 



98 THE CIVIL WAll. 



18G2. 



an imperative demand upon tliem to do something , 
extraordinary, if possible, to retrieve tliose disasters 
tliat Lad come in sucli rapid succession around Eich- 
mond; consequently they jjroceeded at once to carry 
out the design of uniting the two large armies of 
Pope and MacClellan. Getting knowledge of these 
designs. General Lee rapidly changed the position of 
his forces, and on the 17th of August held them in 
front of Pope to prevent his crossing the Eapidan. 

In the meanwhile, by a rapid march of two days 
over the mountains, the brilliant Jackson, completely 
misleading the enemy, had succeeded in occupying 
Bristow and Manassas Stations, on Wednesday, Au- 
gust 27, where he captured many thousands of dollars' 
worth of supplies. On the same day an attack was 
made by the enemy upon both positions. General 
Taylor's Brigade of Slocum's Division of the Army 
of the Potomac attacked Manassas, but was hurled 
back in a disgraceful and thoroughly disorganized 
retreat toward Centerville. At three o'clock Hook- 
er's Division moved against General Ewell at Bris- 
tow, forcing him back across the Muddy Kun. By 
a masterly movement, on the night of the next day. 
General Jackson succeeded in getting an advanta- 
geous position on the old battle-field of Manassas — 
so inspiring from its memories of that former great 
victory, which was soon to be repeated with increased 
glory to Southern arms. Early Friday morning Gen- 



1802. 



A SERIES OF IMPORTANT EVENTS. 99 



eral Stuart dispersed the enemy's cavalry near Gaines- 
ville, on the Warrenton Pike, and later in the day 
General Jackson threw his forces in front of the en- 
emy, who were evidently advancing to attack him, 
near the village of Groveton. General Longstreet, in 
the meantime, in order to join his division with 
Jackson's, had to force his passage through a Avild 
and precipitous mountain pass known as Thorough- 
fare Gap. This w^ould have been an impossible feat 
to any but Southern soldiers, for it was held by a 
force of two thousand of the enemy, and from aid 
which nature gave, with the rough and steep sides 
and narrow pass-way, this gap would seem completely 
impregnable, with even half the number which the 
enemy had concentrated there. But the Confederates 
forced their way and accomplished this daring under- 
taking with less than half a dozen men wounded. 

The enemy began the fight by advancing in a col- 
umn heavily supported by artillery. They were re- 
ceived by Evvell's Division, who reserved their fire 
until the enemy were close upon them, when they 
opened with terrible effect, creating a panic in the 
ranks of the Federals, which was further increased 
by the artillery, which was turned upon them as they 
ran. Toward evening Jackson, re-enforced by Hood's 
Division, fought with renewed energy, gradually driv- 
ing the enemy from the field, until by nine o'clock 
the latter fell back, having sustained a loss of eight 



100 THE CIVIL WAR. 1862. 

thousand in killed and wounded. These attacks by 
the Federals were upon the wings of the Confeder- 
ates, and the dawn of Saturday, August 30, saw Pope 
gathering his energies for a still greater effort, by 
which he hoped to crush the ill-fed, badly-clothed 
soldiers of Jackson — foot-sore and weary from the 
forced marches and incessant fighting. But the re- 
sult of the contest will show that the Federal general 
underestimated the heroic hearts that beat under 
dust-covered gray jackets and those knightly souls 
that looked out from eyes set in powder-stained faces. 
Jackson was now re-enforced by almost all of Long- 
street's entire corps, which occupied a position on the 
right, with Jackson himself holding the left wing — 
the whole line forming a crescent five miles long. 
Opposed to these, on the side of the enemy were Gen- 
erals Sigel, Fitz John Porter, and Reno in the center, 
and Heintzleman and McDowell on the left and right 
respectively. The Confederate batteries in the center, 
under General S. D. Lee, opening upon the rapidly 
forming squadrons of the enemy, which fire was re- 
turned by their batteries. Then the Federals moved 
forward in three successive columns against Jackson's 
infantry. Desperately and boldly did they try to 
maintain themselves against these veterans whose ex- 
ploits have made them co-heirs in the immortal glory 
of their commander. All to no purpose did this elect 
corps of the Federal army sacrifice their best blood 



18G2. A SERIES OF IMPORTANT EVENTS. 101 

in their efforts to redeem the trust their commanders 
had put in tliem. They staggered and reeled like the 
Old Guard at Waterloo, until General Lee turned the 
awful fire of his batteries upon them, when they 
turned and fled, with Jackson's men pursuing like so 
many incarnate spirits of the genius of battle. Gen- 
eral Sickles's Excelsior Brigade met even a worse 
fate at the hands of General Hood, who charged them 
and left few to survive the impetuosity and effective- 
ness of his attack. The order was now given for a 
general charge along the whole Confederate line. 
Never did the soldiery of any age or any land respond 
more nobly or gallantly to a command. Grandly and 
superbly these gray masses moved forward, with those 
characteristic . cheers which sounded their clarion 
peals of victory above the din of the artillery and 
the rattle of the musketry. Nothing could withstand 
them. The spirit of the cause itself for which they 
fought seemed to be personified in them, enthusing 
them with a courage that sent the enemy flying to- 
ward Centerville, forgetful of every thing except the 
desire to save life. Like a senseless mob they ran, 
obeying no commands until they were checked at 
Centerville by the arrival of General Franklin with 
thirty thousand fresh troops. With these Pope re- 
stored partial order to his disorganized army, and 
continued his retreat toward the trenches at Wash- 
ington, leaving upon the field of battle a large amount 



102 THE CIVIL WAH. 18G2.- 

of the munitions of war, and something approacliing 
thirty thousand men, in killed and wounded. Thus, 
in all the fights of this memorable week, it has been 
estimated that the total Federal loss was thirty-eight 
thousand. 

" On September 4 General Lee— leaving to his right 
Arlington Heights, to which Pope had retreated with 
his shattered army — crossed the Potomac into Mary 
land. This was only a feint; the main object was to 
seize Harper's Ferry, and to test the spirit of Mary- 
landers. He then threw Pennsylvania into a state of 
consternation from Hagerstown." With the presence 
of the Confederate army at Frederick, and fearing an 
invasion of their territory, the North was filled with 
anxiety and terror. To carry on certain important 
movements. General Lee — having divided his forces 
into three corps commanded by Generals Jactson, 
Longstreet, and Hill — ordered General Jackson to 
recross the Potomac at Williamsport and to get be- 
hind Harper's Ferry, in order to take the garrison 
and the stores known to be there. Generals Long- 
street and Hill were placed in position so as to check 
General MacClellan's forces, who were moving to- 
ward Harper's Ferry, with the purpose of prevent- 
ing its capture. General MacClellan had resumed 
command of the Federals September 14, General 
Pope, to use the expression of the soldiers, "having 
lost his head." 



18g2. a series of important events. 103 

The Battle of Boonsboro. 

Jackson had separated his own division from the 
main body of the army in order to make his attack 
upon Harper's Ferry, while General Longstreet pro- 
ceeded ou to Hagerstown. General Miles, the Fed- 
eral commander, with twelve thousand men, occupied 
Harper's Ferry. To thwart the Confederates in their 
designs upon this place, the enemy had moved their 
entire force to the gap in the mountain. As a coun- 
ter-movement General Lee had placed General D. 
H. Hill on the other side of the gap, with part of his 
forces occupying the top. He was given imperative 
instructions to hold his position until Jackson's suc- 
cess was assured. To understand the relative position 
of the armies and the nature of the battle that fol- 
lowed, a description of this pass is necessary. " The 
road is winding, narrow, rocky, and rugged, with 
either a deep ravine on one side and the steep sides 
of the mountain on the other, or like a huge chan- 
nel cut through a solid rock. Near the crest are 
tJiree houses which overlook the valley, but elsewhere 
the face of the mountain is unbroken by a solitary 
habitation." 

Beginning just after day-dawn, an artillery duel of 
two hours' duration opened the battle, Vv^hich was then 
taken up generally along the wdiole line. Our vigor- 
ous attacks seemed to make no impression on the 
overpowering immbers of the enemy, and retreat 



104 THE CIVIL WAli. 18G2. 

seemed inevitable, when the rallying cry of Long- 
street's fresh legion's from Hagerstown, wheeling 
themselves gallantly into action, put a new phase 
upon the battle. But even to these fresh re-enforce- 
ments the enemy would not yield, and with a determi- 
nation equal in its tenacity to that of the Confeder- 
ates, whom, however, they outnumbered by five times 
their number, they held their position until the dark- 
ness of the night brought a needed rest to man and 
beast. But the purpose of the Confederates was ac- 
complished. Jackson had done his work. 

Surrender of Harper's Ferry. 

Having placed his artillery in position on the night 
of September 14, early next morning Jackson hurled 
such volleys of death upon the whole line of Feder- 
al fortifications that by half -past seven they flung 
out the white flag of truce, surrendering eleven thou- 
sand troops, seventy-three pieces of artillery, and two 
hundred wagons. Their commander, General Miles, 
had his left thigh shot away by a fragment of a shell. 
Once again had Jackson's ragged veterans forced 
upon the eyes of the Ncrth the thoroughly humil- 
iating spectacle of the surrender of a magnificently 
equipped division of their so-called " Grand Army." 
One can imagine how intensely painful it must have 
been to these Federal soldiers, blessed with every 
thing that was necessary to the complete equipment 




Harper's Ferry. 



(m) 



18G2. 



A SERIES OF IMrORTANT EVENTS. 105 



of soldiers, to march out as prisoners before these 
heroes of a hundred battle-fields in their tattered 
and war-stained garments. 

Battle of Sharpsburg. 

General Lee had now determined to confront the 
advancing force of MacClellan in possession of 
Crampton's Gap, on the road from Frederick City to 
Sharpsburg, the latter place being about ten miles 
from Harper's Ferry, resting in a deep valley in the 
midst of a rugged and broken country. By Septem- 
ber 17 he had settled his forty-five thousand men in a 
strong position, when he was attacked by a force of 
one hundred and fifty thousand finely trained soldiers. 
General MacClellan commanded in person, with the 
following subordinates present with their divisions: 
Generals Burnside, McDowell, Hooker, Sumner, 
Franklin, AVilliams, and Sykes. The line of battle 
of this great army extended over a space of five miles. 
A preliminary fire from the Federal batteries late 
Tuesday evening (16th) prepared the Confederates 
for an early renewal the next morning. Consequent- 
ly by day-break the battle was opened and continued 
by the pickets until it merged into a general engage- 
ment. " The enemy advanced between Antietam and 
the Sharpsburg and Hagerstown turnpike, and were 
met by General D. H. Hill and General Longstreet, 
where the conflict raged, extending to our entire left." 



lOG THE CIVIL WAR. 18G2. 

The mortality among the Federals was terrible, for 
they were in a position where our guns were used 
against them with such telling effect that they fell 
as grain falls before the blade of the reaper; conse- 
quently after a stubborn contest they were forced to 
fall back at this point. But that portion of our line 
nearest where the enemy crossed the Potomg,c was on 
the point of being overwhelmed, when the divisions 
of McLaws, Anderson, and Walker came to its as- 
sistance. With these new troops the ranks were re- 
stored, and they held their position. 

Of how heroically and nobly the Confederates 
fought it is perhaps well to give the testimony of a 
Federal officer: "It is beyond all comprehension how 
men such as the rebel troops are can fight as they do. 
That those ragged Avretches— sick, hungry, and in all 
ways miserable — should prove such heroes in fight is 
past explanation. Men never fought better. There 
was one regiment that stood up before the fire of two 
or three of our long-range batteries and two regi- 
ments of infantry, and though the air around them 
was vocal with the whistle of the bullets and the 
scream of the shells, there they stood and delivered 
their fire in perfect order." ^ 

In the afternoon the enemy made a vain attack 
upon our right, which was held by General Jones, 
but they met with better success in forcing General 
Tombs from his position at the bridge over Antietam 



18G2. A SERIES OF IMrORTANT EVENTS. 107 

Creek. At four o'clock in the afternoon General A. 
P. Hill's Division came to the support of the Confed- 
erate right, thus augmenting their whole number to 
seventy thousand. But even with these they could 
not hope to gain a decisive victory over an enemy 
who were superior to them by twice their own num- 
ber, and who had the advantage of position. Conse- 
quently, at night-fall, after superhuman efforts, with 
ammunition exhausted, they had to content them- 
selves with a drawn battle, each side virtually retain- 
ing the same position in which it had begun the con- 
flict. On both sides the loss was about the same — 
variously estimated between five and nine thousand. 
Though the Federals claimed the victory, they dis- 
appeared from the Confederate front during the 
night, while General Lee took a position at Shep- 
herdstown. On the 20th the Federals made a pre- 
tense of attacking him at this point, but were re- 
pulsed by General A. P. Hill's Division. 

At this time the London Times furnished the fol- 
lowing tribute to the character of the Southern peo- 
ple: 

The people of the Confederate States have made themselves 
famous. If the renown of brilliant courage, stern devotion to a 
cause, and military achievements almost without a parallel can 
compensate men for the toil and privations of the hour, then 
the countrymen of Lee and Jackson may be consoled amid their 
sufferings. From all parts of Europe, from their enemies as 
well as their friends, from those who condemn their acts as 



108 ' THE CIVIL WAK. 1802. 

well as those who sympathize with them, comes the tribute of 
admiration. When the history of this war is written tlie admi- 
ration will doubtless become deeper and stronger, for the veil 
which has covered the South will be drawn away, and disclose 
a picture of patriotism, of unanimous self-sacrifice, of wise and 
firm administration, which we can now only see indistinctly. 
The details of extraordinary national effort, which has led to the 
repulse and almost to the destruction of an invading force of 
more than half a million men, will then become known to the 
world, and whatever may be the fate of the new nationality or 
its subsequent claims to the respect of mankind, it will assuredly 
begin its career with a reputation for genius and valor which the 
most famous nations may envy. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Movements in the West Again. 

THE North had arranged a programme of opera- 
tions in the country west of the Aileghanies. 
Tliese preparations surpassed in magnitude all mili- 
tary movements which had been designed or attempt- 
ed since the beginning of the war, the main object 
being the expulsion of all Confederates from Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee, and the States west of the Missis- 
sippi River, and also the penetration through the 
Gulf States. The enemy were at this time on their 
way into all these places, while another army was 
operating in Missouri and Arkansas. Also there was 
on the waters of the Mississippi a fleet of gun-boats 
which was considered impregnable in strength. 

Nothing was now left for the South to do bat to 
make a forward, aggressive movement, by which 
North Alabama and Middle and East Tennessee 
should be relieved, and the enemy forced to fall 
back, and assistance given to General Buell, who was 
at this time in Kentucky. The brief retirement of 
the favorite General Beauregard, on account of ill 
health, was a misfortune to the Confederates. Gen- 
eral Bragg was appointed to take his place. The 

(109) 



110 THE CIVIL WAR. 



1862. 



first steps of tl^e aggressive movement was the order- 
ing, of General Kirby Smith to advance into Ken- 
tucky and threaten Cincinnati, the main object being 
to force the enemy across tlie Ohio Biver. 

Early in the month of August General McCown 
moved his division from Loudon to Knoxville; thence 
our troops moved to the gap in the Cumberland 
Mountains, being joined by General Cleburne at the 
lower gap, when the whole force— with baggage, 
trains, and artillery— were ordered through. They 
then made a forced march until they reached Bar- 
boursville. Halting there a few hours to rest their 
wearied limbs, they pushed on to Cumberland Ford, 
and were there given several days of rest. 

General Kirby Smith found the enemy in force on 
the morning of August 29, near Kichmond, Ky., and 
determined to march against them. The leading di- 
vision, under General Cleburne, after advancing two 
or three miles, encountered the enemy drawn up in 
line of battle in a fine position near Mount Zion 
Church, six miles from Kichmond, Ky. Without 
waiting for Churchill's troops, he at once commenced 
action, and by half-past seven o'clock firing was very 
brisk. General Churchill, on his arrival, was sent 
with his division to turn the enemy's right, which he 
accomplished admirably. At the same time an at- 
tempt wns being made by the enemy to fiank General 
Cleburne's right, but it was thwarted by the gallantry 



1SG2. 



MOVEMENTS IN THE WEST AGAIN. Ill 



of Colonel Preston Smith's Brigade, wliicli repalsecl 
the enemy with great slaughter. General Smith then 
ordered the cavalry to proceed to the north of Eich- 
mond in order to cut off the retreat of the enemy. 
Our artillerymen having ceased their firing, and the 
Federals consequently thinking that the silence of the 
guns meant a retreat, made an attack upon the Texas 
and Arkansas troops under McCray, who met them 
and fought the battle alone, and by courageous 
charging upon their advancing lines put them to 
flight, though they numbered three to one. In 
the wildest confusion they fled, "leaving knapsacks, 
swords, pistols, hats, and canteens scattered along 
the road they traveled, where their dead and dying 
too plainly showed the way." 

General Smith received information that General 
Nelson had arrived with re-enforcements for the 
enemy, and had determined to make a stand on a 
commanding ridge. Generals Churchill and Preston 
Smith, at double-quick, formed in front of the ene- 
my's center and left. Without waiting for the com- 
mand of the officers, these brave Confederates ad- 
vanced under the destructive fire of twice their 
number, and drove the Federals from the field with 
great slaughter. The worn-out, exhausted condition 
of oar soldiers and the darkness of the night prevent- 
ed pursuit of the enemy. The results of the day 
added new glories to Confederate arms. 



112 THE CIVIL WAli. 



18G2. 



On the 4tli of September General Preston Smith, 
with forces consisting of a Texas and an Arkansas 
brigade, under command of General Churchill, and 
Generals Cleburne's and Heath's Divisions — all be- 
ing under the command of General Kirby Smith — 
was welcomed into the beautiful city of Lexington, 
Ky. " The entrance of our troops into Lexington 
was the occasion of the most inspiring and touching 
scenes. Streets, windows, and gardens were filled 
with ladies and little girls with streams of red and 
blue ribbon and flags with stars and bars upon them. 
Beautiful women seized the hard, brown hands of our 
rough and ragged soldiers, and, with tears and 
smiles, thanked them again and again for coming 
into Kentucky, and freeing them from the presence 
and insults of the hated and insolent Yankees. For 
hours the enthusiasm of the people was unbounded. 
At every street-corner baskets of provisions and 
buckets of cold water were placed for the refresh- 
ment of our weary soldiers; and hundreds of our 
men were presented with shoes and hats and coats 
and tobacco from a grateful people. Private resi- 
dences were turned into public houses of entertain- 
ment free to all who could be persuaded to go and 
eat. But if the reception of the infantry was enthu- 
siastic, the tears, the smiles, the cheers of wild de- 
light which greeted General John Morgan's cavalry 
as they came dashing through the streets amid clouds 



1862. MOVEMENTS IN THE WEST AGAIN. 113 

of dust was without a parallel. The wildest joy ruled 
the hour. The bells of the city pealed forth their 
joyous welcome, while the waving of thousands of 
v/hite handkerchiefs and tiny Confederate flags at- 
tested the gladness and delight of every heart." 

AVith the laurels of grand exploits in Kentucky still 
fresh upon him, many were hopeful that General 
Smith would attempt the capture of the city of Cin- 
cinnati; but his orders were to menace, not attack. 
Consequently he* was ordered to fall back into the 
interior to co-operate with the army under General 
Bragg, who had entered the State by the eastern 
route, crossing the Cumberland Eiver at Gainesboro, 
with the design of flanking General Buell. General 
Smith's movements, however, were soon understood 
by the enemy. On September 17 General Bragg 
captured five thousand of the enemy at Munford- 
ville, with a very small loss on our side; and on Oc- 
tober 4 joined General Smith at Frankfort. 

Battle of Perryville, October 8. 

By harassing his rear near Perryville the enemy 
showed that they were desirous of an engagement 
with General Bragg; and the latter, though having 
but fifteen thousand men against forty-five thousand 
of the Federals, arranged his forces for battle with 
General Hardee commanding Buckner's and Ander- 
son's Divisions on the left and General Polk with 
8 



114 THE CIYIL WAR. 18G2. 

Cheatham's and Wiihers's Divisions on the right. 
About midday the "battle opened. Colonel Powell's 
Brigade, on the extreme left, succeeded in pushing 
back for over a mile the largely superior numbers 
opposed to him; but General Adams's Brigade, after 
holding its position gallantly until six o'clock in the 
afternoon, was forced to retreat, which they accom- 
plished in perfect order, though at the loss of a large 
number of men. When night put an end to this hotiy 
contested engagement it was found that the Confeder- 
ates had forced the enemy two miles from their orig- 
inal position, with a loss of four thousand killed and 
wounded, seven thousand prisoners, and fifteen pieces 
of artillery; while their own loss in killed, wounded, 
and missing was two thousand five hundred. 

Inability on the part of the Confederates to reap 
the fruits of their victory at Perryville, just as at 
Shiloh, was again due to a lack of numbers; for the 
history of the world's battle-fields furnishes no no- 
bler example of man's devotion to principle and the 
courage to stand by that principle with life itself. 
All day they fought in a manner worthy of their 
cause, though tired and worn out by their long 
marches over the mountains. General Cheatham's 
brave Tennesseeans deserve great credit for the cour- 
age with wdiich they bore the brunt of the contest. 
In this day's fight the Confederates proved true to 
a glorious past that had made the record of noble 



1802. MOVEMENTS IN THE WEST AGAIN. 115 

aiid manly acliievemeiits richer and brighter by 
many a gallant deed. 

The large numbers of the enemy, and the fact, too, 
that they were increasing daily, made a retreat ab- 
solutely necessary. Eeaiizing this, General Bragg 
began his march out of Kentucky October 12, Major 
Adrian's Cavalry leading the van. Arriving at Bry- 
antsville, the management of the retreat was turned 
over to General Polk, which was accomplished suc- 
cessfully by General Wheeler's skillful defense of the 
rear, from which he warded off frequent and strong 
attacks of the enemy. In many respects this retreat 
was unfortunate. It produced a tremendous back- 
set to the Confederate cause in Kentucky; for the 
citizens, who had welcomed the army with such en- 
thusiasm, either had to absolve themselves from alle- 
giance to the Confederacy or else to abandon their 
property and possessions to the enemy. Consequent- 
ly the greatest confusion resulted throughout the 
State, producing a large exodus of citizens toward 
the South in order to get within the protection of 
the Confederate lines. 

In the South-west. 

Events in this section brought little credit upon 
Southern arms. Disasters followed one another in a 
depressingly quick succession, which were begun by 
General Breckinridge's attack August 5, with only 



116 THE CIVIL WAR. 1862. 

three thousand men, upon five thousand of the enemy 
strongly fortified at Baton Rouge, La. Though the 
attack was gallantly conducted, and though the troops 
fought as nobly as men well could under the circum- 
stances, they were forced to fall back with consider- 
able loss. This misfortune was followed by the forced 
destruction of the magnificent ram "Arkansas," which 
had made herself famous by successfully running 
through the Federal fleet at Vicksburg, and in which 
the Confederate Government entertained great hopes 
of future use. Her machinery refused to work, and 
consequently, in order to avoid capture at the hands 
of the enemy, she was burned near Bayou Sara. 

At luka. Miss., September 20, General Price, in 
an attack against an enemy largely superior in num- 
bers, met a similar fate to that which our troops had 
suffered at Baton Rouge. It was the same old story 
of a magnificent and splendid courage striving against 
sheer force of numbers. To illustrate how stubbornly 
and bravely the Confederates contested with the ene- 
my, it is related that ''the battle was almost hand to 
hand. One Ohio battery was taken four times by our 
men, and as often retaken by a greatly superior force. 
Several of our men endeavored to tear the colors 
from the hands of the Yankees by main force, and 
either perished in the attempt or were made prison- 
ers. In one spot the next morning there were count- 
ed seventeen Confederate soldiers lying dead around 



1862. 



MOVEMENTS IN THE WEST AGAIN. 117 



one of their officers. Sixteen feet square would have 
covered the whole space." 

Battle of Corinth. 

Having united the forces of General Price with his 
own, on Friday, October 3, General Van Dorn pre- 
pared to attack the enemy fortified at Corinth. His 
own forces, consisting of only one division command- 
ed by General Lovell, held the right, with General 
Price's forces of two divisions holding the left, the 
extreme positions on the left and right being occu- 
pied by Generals Herbert and Maury respectively. 
The battle was begun at half-past seven o'clock by 
General Yillipigue's Battery opening a severe fire 
upon the enemy, which forced them to make a gradu- 
al retreat for two hours. Here, within half a mile of 
their line of fortifications, the Federals made a stub- 
born stand. The whole Confederate line now moved 
grandly forward to the attack. In the midst of the 
concentrated fire of the enemy's heavy batteries, they 
advanced superbly in a double-quick charge, driving 
the Federals from their first line of intrenchments to 
th| protection of the second. 

Here the battlf^ ended for the day, and General Yan 
Dorn, overconfident and ignorant of the strength of 
the enemy, telegraphed to Eichmond the news of a 
great victory. Early next morning the conflict was 
renewed with a terrific artillery fire upon the enemy's 



118 THE CIVIL WAR. 1862. 

works, which was kept up until ten o'clock, when the 
whole line again advanced to the attack. Nothing 
could withstand them. But the very enthusiasm of 
victory cost them dear. Inspired by the spirit of 
battle itself, the individual soldier forgot order and 
discipline, and in the greatest and the wildest con- 
fusion they cut through the ranks of the enemy and 
broke into the village of Corinth. Here the Federals 
turned loose their batteries upon them, and either a 
retreat was inevitable or the taking of the enemy's 
strongest battery, on College Hill, was necessary. 
The latter course was ordered. Eight deep, in a 
grim and determined silence, the representatives of 
Southern hopes and aspirations advanced to the 
charge into the very jaws of death. On they went 
in the face of bullets as thick as rain-drops in a sum- 
mer storm. Still advancing, and falling by the hun- 
dreds, they reached the top of the hill. Twice were 
they beaten back; but the third time they seemed to 
succeed. A cheer was raised above the din of battle, 
and the Southern cross with its stars of heaven float- 
ed from the enemy's works; but it was immediately 
torn away by a shot. Again it Avas set up, but only 
to be shot away. Physical nature inspired by divine 
courage could do no more. The bleeding, shattered 
ranks, after having given an exhibition of fortitude 
which glorifies the human race, fell back, followed by 
an increased fire of the enemy at close range, and the 



1 



1862. MOVEMENTS IN THE WEST AGAIN. 119 

day was lost. But even then they were unwilling to 
give up the contest without another struggle, and 
only retired to the shelter of the woods to await the 
expected attack of the enemy. But the latter seemed 
contented with the day's fighting. Consequently 
General Yan Dorn began to withdraw his forces. 
About half-past eight o'clock next morning he was 
again attacked by the enemy, which at first produced 
a temporary confusion. But order was soon restored, 
and an artillery fire was kept up all day, which en- 
abled General Yan Dorn to gradually lead his troops 
across the Hatchie River, and take a position near 
Eipley. In killed, wounded, and prisoners General 
Yan Dorn had lost forty-five hundred men, while 
it is conjectured that the Federal loss was perhaps 
about half that number. 

Guerrilla Warfare in Missouri. 

The State of Missouri had much to complain of at 
the hands of the enemy. From one end of her bor- 
ders to the other she had been overrun with the full 
license of war — robbery, murder, and pillage being 
the order of the day. Consequently, as a matter of 
self-defense and to protect themselves against the 
unrestrained oppression of the enemy, the citizens 
began to organize themselves into irregular bands, 
known as "guerrillas." Troops of this character, 
however, did not disdain to try conclusions with the 



120 THE CIVIL WAR. 1862. 

enemy even in open battle. On the 6th of August 
Porter's band was attacked by a large force of the 
Federals under Colonel McNeil, at Kirksville, and 
only retreated after killing fully one thousand of the 
enemy and losing five hundred themselves. This 
was followed on the 15th of the same month by a 
total defeat and rout of the Federals, near Lone Jack, 
by Hughes's and Quantrell's bands, the arrival of re- 
enforcements only saving the enemy from destruction. 
To illustrate the terrible vindictiveness of the Fed- 
erals, one has only to mention briefly what was known 
as the "Palmyra massacre," which occurred in Octo- 
ber. A Federal spy had been captured, and Colonel 
McNeil issued orders that unless he were returned 
ten Confederate prisoners should pay the penalty 
with their lives. Being a legitimate prisoner of war, 
the man was not returned. The Federal commander, 
true to his word, carried out his cruel edict to the very 
letter. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Campaign in Nortiiern Virginia. 

NOT satisfied with the dilatory policy of General 
MaeClellan, as indicated in the previous chapter, 
the Federal Government had superseded him with 
General Burnside. With this change the North 
again took up their old cry, "On to Richmond!" 
which had been so often turned to one of grief by 
the prowess of Southern arms. 

General Barnside began operations by massing 
his forces at Fredericksburg, Ya., with the determi- 
nation of crossing the Eappahannock. Consequently 
on the night of December 10 he began to construct 
three bridges over the Rappahannock — ^"two at Fred- 
ericksburg and a third about a mile and a quarter be- 
low at Deep Run. In the prosecution of this work the 
enemy were defended by their artillery on the hills 
of Stafford, which completely commanded the plain 
upon which Fredericksburg stands." During the 
process of construction the Seventeenth Mississippi 
Regiment of Barksdale's Brigade, posted on the 
bluffs on the opposite side of the river, opened fire 
upon the enemy, which was replied to with a storm 
of shells. Though the Confederates harassed the 

(121) 



122 THE CIVIL WAll. 1862. 

enemy persistently and incessantly all tli rough the 
night, yet they sacceeded in finishing their bridges 
by the morning of the 11th. The Confederates re- 
treated through the streets of Fredericksburg, fol- 
lowed by the fire of the enemy, which forced the 
citizens to evacuate the town and to flee to the sur- 
rounding country for protection. By the 13th the 
Confederates had taken a strong position upon the 
bluffs on the south bank of the river, presenting a 
front to the enemy six miles in length. About twelve 
o'clock in the day the latter moved forward across the 
valley intervening between our forces and theirs. 
They were received with a terrible cannonading from 
General Stuart's Horse Artillery, but managed to 
keep on across the valley until they came within the 
protection of the woods, from which position they 
were driven by Generals Hill's and Early's troops, 
and pursued until they reached the shelter of their 
batteries. While this portion of the Confederate 
line, which consisted of Jackson's Corps, was thus 
engaged, the enemy also advanced against Genei'al 
Lgngstreet's position on the left, and directed their 
principal attack against Mayre's Hill, upon which 
w^as stationed the Washington Artillery and a part of 
McLaw's Division. Eight gallantly did they press 
forward to the charge, facing the awful fire of shot 
and shell turned upon them with such effectiveness 
as to make the ground over which they passed liter- 



1862. CAMPAIGN IN NOllTHEKN VIRGINIA. 123 

ally a ghastly field of dead men. Broken and shat- 
tered, they reeled back, pursued into the town by our 
troops. Night put an end to the conflict. The pale 
December moon gave a ghastlier appearance to a 
field already horrible in the extreme. That terrible 
tenacity and doggedness with which each fought was 
shown in the number of the killed, for the field is 
said to have been "literally packed with dead. At 
the foot of Mayre's Hill was a frightful spectacle of 
carnage." The victory was indeed a costly one to the 
Confederates. Not having the whole world to draw 
from, the number of killed and wounded signified 
much to them: it meant a vacant place in their ranks 
that could not be filled, a gap which, when closed up, 
brought the wings nearer together. Consequently 
the fruits of the victory at Fredericksburg hardly 
compensated them for the loss they had sustained, 
which was about eighteen hundred, among whom 
were Generals Cobb, of Georgia, and Gregg, of South 
Carolina; while the enemy are said to have lost some- 
thing near ten thousand men in killed, wounded, and 
missing. Although the battle w^as decisive enough, 
very little advantage was reaped from it by allowing 
General Burnside to safely cross the Kappahannock 
with his shattered and thoroughly whipped army. 

While detailing the story of man's stern devotion 
to duty on the bloody field of carnage, woman's qui- 
eter though none the less noble devotion cannot be 



124 THE CIVIL WAll. 18G2. 

consistently passed over. Therefore, in quoting the 
language of an historian in regard to the heroism 
of the women of Fredericksburg during this time 
one but describes the qualities that characterized 
the women of the whole South during the shifting 
and trying scenes of the civil war: 

The romance of the story of Fredericksburg is written no less 
in the quiet heroism of her women than in deeds of arms. The 
verses of a poet rather than the cold language of a mere chron- 
icler of events are more befitting to describe the beautiful cour- 
age and the noble sacrifices of these brave daughters of Virginia. 
. . . . In all the terrible scenes of Fredericksburg there were 
no weaknesses and tears of women. Mothers, exiles from home, 
met their sons in the ranks, embraced them, told them to do 
their duty, and, with a self-negation most touching to witness, 
concealed their wants, sometimes their hunger, telling their 
brave boys that they were comforta))le and happy, that they 
might not be troubled with domestic anxieties. At Hamilton's 
Crossing many of the women had the opportunity of meeting 
their relations in the army. In the haste of flight mothers had 
brought a few garments or perhaps the last loaf of bread for the 
soldier boy, and the lesson of duty whispered in the ear gave 
the young heart the pure and brave inspiration to sustain it in 
battle. No m.ore touching and nol)le evidence could be offered 
of the heroism of the women of Fredericksburg than the grati- 
tude of our army ; for afterward, when subscriptions for their 
relief came to be added up, it was found that thousands of dol- 
lars had been contributed by ragged soldiers out of their pit- 
tance of pay to the fund of the refugees. There could be no 
more eloquent tribute offered than this — a beautiful and immor- 
tal souvenir of their sufferings and virtues. 



18g2. campaign in northern virginia. 125 

The Federals in North Carolina. 
During the month of December the Federals were 
actively engaged in overrunning the State of North 
Carolina. Near Kinston General Evans, with only 
two thousand men, succeeded in holding them in 
check for three days, from the 13th to the 16th. The 
number of the enemy was fifteen thousand, com- 
manded by General Foster. They then moved against 
General Kobertson at Whitehall Bridge, over the 
Neuse Eiver, eighteen miles below Goldsboro, but 
were repulsed with great loss. This was followed by 
an attack of the whole Confederate force — under 
Generals Evans, Clingman, and Pettigrew — upon the 
Federal position along the river (Neuse). The lat- 
ter were driven back to the shelter of their fortifica- 
tions and gun-boats. Thus, with a loss of only about 
three hundred in killed and wounded, the Confeder- 
ates had held the enemy in check, and had prevent- 
ed them from accomplishing any thing of special 
importance. 

General Hindman's Success in Arkansas. 

Before closing the record of the yea«r 1862 Gener- 
al Hindman's encounter with the enemy on the 27th 
of November, at Prairie Grove, Ark., must be no- 
ticed. With only about nine thousand men General 
Hindman sustained himself against a much larger 
force. All day the battle waged, with the enemy 



126 THE CIVIL WAR. 1862. 

making persistent and stubborn charges upon iiis 
lines, but all to no purpose, for when the day ended 
he had thoroughly and completely pushed the enemy 
back, with a loss of one thousand in killed and wound- 
ed, three hundred prisoners, and a large amount of 
stores, for which the Confederates paid with a total 
loss of three hundred. 

Cavalry Exploits. 

On the other side of the Mississippi Eiver the last 
movements of the year were signalized by the daring 
raids of the Confederate cavalry under Generals For- 
rest, Morgan, and Clarkson, by which the Federals 
were continually harassed, for they never knew where 
or when these hard riders would strike them a blow, 
and then vanish like a shadow. On the 7th day of 
December General John Morgan, around whose 
name the glamour of romantic story has spread itself, 
succeeded in taking the town of Hartsville, on the 
Cumberland Eiver, with two thousand stands of arms, 
a large quantity of provisions, two pieces of artillery, 
and eighteen hundred prisoners. This exploit was 
followed by Colonel Clarkson with like success, tak- 
ing the town of Piketon, Ky. 

On the whole the year 1862 had been a brilliant 
one to the South, though it was overshadowed by 
some signal disasters. Relying solely upon the virt- 
ue, integrity, and patriotism of her people, she had 



18()2. CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 127 

successfully resisted each of the magnificent armies 
that the enemy, with inexhaustible resources behind 
them, had hurled against her. The story of the suc- 
cessive battles has given to the world a clear and 
positive proof of the valor of her troops, and their de- 
votion to principle under the most trying and adverse 
circumstances. Consequently, with such a record 
as this, she was prepared to enter upon the next year 
with comparative confidence and few misgivings as 
to the results. Therefore, preliminary to the impor- 
tant events which were to follow, General Pemberton 
was appointed to supersede General Van Dorn at 
Holly Springs, Miss.; General Joseph E. Johnston 
was put in command of all the armies between the 
mountains and the great river; and General Beaure- 
gard was ordered to defend the cities of Charleston 
and Savannah against the fleet being prepared on a 
large scale by the enemy. 



CHAPTER XIV, 

Murfreesboro— Galveston— Arkansas. 

AT Murfreesboro, Tenn., General Bragg had con- 
centrated as gallant an army as ever followed 
the Hag of any country into battle. It was thirty 
thousand in number, coming principally from the ex- 
treme Southern States — Louisiana, Florida, South 
Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennes- 
see. The horrors of battle were not new to them, for 
they were the same troops who had given evidence of 
such magnificent and superb courage at Shiloli and 
Perryville and other scarcely less memorable fields. 
They were now resting from the dread alarms of war, 
and had entered with all a soldier's zest into the full 
enjoyment of the festivities of Christmas, when, on 
Friday, December 26, word was brought that Rose- 
crans was marching against them from Nashville with 
over forty thousand troops. The scene changes from 
the delights and pleasures of the ball-room to the 
sterner duties of war and death. 

"The grounds in front of Murfreesboro had been 
surveyed and examined a month before in order to 
select a position for battle in case of a surprise, and 

our troops were thrown forward to prevent such a 
(128) 



18G2. MURFKEESBORO— GALVESTON— ARKANSAS. 129 

misfortune. Polk's Corps, with Clieatliam's Division, 
occupied our center, Maney's Brigade being thrown 
forward toward La Yergne, where Wheeler's Cavalry 
was annoying the enemy. A portion of Kirby Smith's 
Corps, McCown's Division, occupied Readyville on , 
our right, and Hardee's Corps occupied Triune on 
our left, with Wharton's Cavalry thrown out in the 
vicinity of Franklin." The advance of the enemy 
drove in Hardee's Corps from Triune, and made the 
call of McCown's Division from Ready ville necessary. 
By the 28th the Confederates had arranged them- 
selves in line of battle, with Polk's command, Cheat- 
ham's and Withers's Divisions, on the west bank of 
Stone's Biver, presenting a front six miles in length 
from wing to wing, which rested respectively on the 
Nashville and Salem pikes; Hardee's Corps, Breck- 
inridge's and Cleburne's Divisions, held a position 
on the east bank of the river, stretching over a dis- 
- tance of three miles, thus making the whole line "nine 
miles in length, in the shape of an obtuse angle." 
McCown's Division and Jackson's Brigade were held 
as reserves for the center and right flank respectively. 
After preliminary skirmishing and cannonading on 
the 29tli and the morning of the 30th, at three o'clock 
in the afternoon of the latter day the enemy massed 
their forces and attacked the Confederate left, charg- 
ing Robinson's Battery no less than three times; but 
each time they were driven back by those courageous 
9 



130 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G2. 

Tennesseeans, the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth 
Kegiment. Perceiving that the intention of the Fed- 
erals was to concentrate their efforts against the left, 
McCown's and Cleburne's Divisions were moved to 
that part of the line. In the meantime Wheeler's 
Cavalry had surprised the enemy in the rear, and had 
captured a wagon-train, together with some prisoners. 
All through that December night the Confederates 
lay around the camp-fires, chilled by a bitter winter 
rain. But this did not damp their ardor for the 
grand charge which they, in the cold, gray dawn of 
the next morning (31st), made. The charge was be- 
gun by Cleburne's and McCown's Divisions, and took 
the enemy completely by surprise. The bright sun 
broke through the clouds just at the time, and shed a 
ray of splendor upon that grand gray column as it 
moved irresistibly forward, sweeping the enemy be- 
fore it, and driving them back six miles. Withers's 
and Cheatham's Divisions had also made the enemy 
feel the weight of their awful blows in the number of 
dead which they left upon the field and the batteries 
which they abandoned to the possession of the Con- 
federates. A splendid and magnificent charge had 
been conducted, "driving the enemy before it like 
the hurricane scatters leaves upon its course, and lit- 
erally blackening the ground with the dead. For 
miles, through fields and forests, over ditches, fences, 
and ravines, they had swept. Brigade after brigade, 



1863. MUEFEEESBORO— GALVESTON— ARKANSAS. 131 

battory after battery were thrown forward to stay 
their onward course, but another volley of musketry, 
another gleaming of the bayonet, and, like their pred- 
ecessors, they were crushed into one common ruin." 
The Confederates had taken nearly five thousand 
prisoners, thirty pieces of artillery, five thousand 
stands of arms, and a large amount of ammunition. 

General Eosecrans had refused to aid his defeated 
right by weakening his left or center, for he knew 
that the forces in front of him were ready and waiting 
to strike these points when any signs of weakness 
might appear. Consequently, unperceived by the 
Confederates, he moved his center forward and took 
a strong position on a hill. This the latter gallantly 
charged; but it was simply impossible to withstand 
the awful fire of the enemy, and they were forced to 
fall back, though not without capturing two batteries. 
The Confederates camped for the night upon one of 
the most sanguinary fields of the war, and New-year's- 
eve was passed in the midst of the dead and wounded 
and all the horrible scenes of the day's fighting. 

On the following day (January 1, 1863) General 
Bragg presented a glorious victory to the authorities 
at Kichmond as a New-year's gift; but unfortunately 
he allowed the enemy to restore 'order among their dis- 
organized forces, and did not attack until three o'clock 
in the afternoon of January 3. In the meantime the 
Federals had arranged themselves in a strong po- 



132 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G3. 

sition in the bend of the riv.er, which General Breck- 
inridge was ordered to take. At four o'clock the sig- 
nal was given, and the fated band moved forward like 
the very embodiment of courage to that awful charge, 
in the face of such a storm of artillery and musketry 
fire as any battle-field had rarely witnessed. With a 
bravery that seemed nothing short of sheer madness 
they drove the enemy from the ridge to the river, the 
Twentieth Tennessee Regiment capturing two hundred 
prisoners. They next turned their attention to the 
enemy on the other side of the river, and with the 
of his command; consequently, in the approaching 
same never-faltering courage they crossed it in the 
midst of such a fire that in a short space of time, 
measured only by a few brief moments, two thou- 
sand vacant places were made in the home life of the 
South. But the sacrifice was fruitless save only as 
an example of a grand courage that causes one to 
honor his race more and more as he reads the story 
of the "bloody crossing of Stone's River." To con- 
tinue against such a fire meant the total annihilation 
darkness, Breckinridge fell back. Among his dead 
were the brave Captain Wright and the noble and 
gallant Hanson, whose last words were: " I am willing 
to die with such a wound, received in so glorious a 
cause." With these heroic words he joined the grand 
army of warriors on the other shore, who have died 
battling for the right. 



18G2. MURFREESBORO— GALVESTON— ARKANSAS. 133 

On the next day (the 3d) General Bragg withdrew 
with his army to Tullahoma, while the Federal forces 
occupied Mart'reesboro. While the battle may be 
accounted a Federal success in that the Confederates 
fell back from their position, yet when the enemy's 
terrible defeat in the first day's fight is considered, 
together with the number of their loss in killed and 
prisoners, and also the fact that Bragg was holding a 
position which virtually held them in check, then it 
will be seen that their claims to a complete victory 
might be well questioned. 

Capture of Galveston. 

As an offset to the apparent disaster at Murfrees- 
boro, the Confederates also began the new year with 
a victory at Galveston, Tex. At three o'clock on 
the morning of December 31st General Magruder, 
with seven regiments of infantry and twenty-two guns, 
proceeded to retake the city, which, as has been no- 
ticed in a previous chapter, had been captured by the 
enemy. Only a few of the latter occupied the city, 
but out in the harbor, not three hundred yards from 
the shore, lay five of the enemy's boats, with their 
guns ready and frowning threateningly upon the 
city. Silently Magruder's little band moved through 
the streets and took a position on Strand Street near 
the wharves; and before daylight he astonished the 
citizens with a roar of his guns directed against the 



134 THE CIVIL WAK. 



1SG3. 



sliips, which replied to their fire so effectively that it 
soon became evident that the small Confederate bat- 
tery was no match for their heavy guns. Mean- 
while an unsuccessful attack was made npon three 
companies of the Forty-second Massachusetts Regi- 
ment, which were fortified at one end of the wharfs. 

Assistance now came to the Confederates from the 
water. The " Bayou City," the "Neptune," the "John 
F. Can," and the " Lucy Gwinn " steamed toward the 
Federal vessels, directing their attention especially to 
the " Harriet Lane," which the " Neptune " struck 
amidships, and having cleared her decks by fire from 
small-arms, the crew of the latter were preparing to 
board the "Lane" when it was discovered that their 
own vessel was damaged to such an extent as to be 
sinking; consequently they steamed off and sunk her. 
The " Bayou City " next attacked the Federal vessel, 
and boarded her and forced u surrender. The other 
ships of the enemy managed to escape out of the har- 
bor, with the exception of the " AVestfield," which was 

burned. 

Surrender of Arkansas Post. 

On the 11th of January, after two days' attack with 
both water and land forces, the enemy, under General 
MacClernand, succeeded in forcing the surrender of 
Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas Pviver, which was 
held by General Churchill with over three thousand 
troops. This victory was important to the Federals, 



1863. MURFREESBORO — GALVESTON— ARKANSAS. 135 

in that it gave them control of the commerce of the 
Arkansas Eiver. 

Confederate Eams Attack the Federals in 
Charleston Harbor. 

In Charleston Harbor, on the 30th of January, the 
Confederate rams moved out against the Federal 
fleet, which had held a position off the mouth of the 
harbor for over a month. The result of this attack 
was the serious disabling of the " Mercedita " and the 
*' Key-stone State," the latter vessel losing twenty-one 
men. 

The Federal gun-boat, " Queen of the West," had 
managed to pass the Confederate batteries at Yicks- 
burg, and was committing depredations on Red River, 
where she had also taken a small Confederate boat, 
the "Era." The commander of the *' Queen of the 
West," had forced the pilot of the "Era," George 
Wood, to take the helm of the " Queen of the West " 
and direct her toward the capture of a Confederate 
fort on the river. Wood drove her ashore just oppo- 
site the fort, however, and turned her side to the bat- 
teries, and, in the confusion which followed from this 
movement, succeeded in making his escape. Part of 
the crew of the " Queen of the West," and her com- 
mander, jumped upon cotton-bales and floated down 
the river; but the remainder, thirteen in number, re- 
mained on board all night, and the next morning the 



136 THE CIVIL WAR. 18(33. 

Confederates took possession. In like manner anoth- 
er Federal vessel, the " Indianola," had succeeded in 
passing our batteries, and for some time had been a 
source of great annoyance in the damage which she 
was doing to Confederate transportation. Consequent- 
ly the "Queen of the West," the " Webb," the "Era," 
and the "Dr. Batey," under the command of Major 
AValker, went in quest of the enemy's boat, and came 
up with her about thirty miles below Vicksburg at 
nine o'clock on the night of February 24. The Con- 
federate boats at once moved to the attack, and after 
a terrible contest of over an hour's duration it was 
found that the "Indianola" was in a sinking condi- 
tion. Consequently her officers surrendered their 
boat with the crew, which numbered one hundred 
and twenty men. 

W^hile the Confederates were thus gaining these 
successes on the inland waters they also had a few 
privateers upon the Atlantic, which were doing much 
damage to the Federal shipping, and the exploits of 
the "Alabama" and the "Florida" were such as even 
to call forth from the North a merited tribute to their 
efficiency. 







Destruction of the " Ilatteras " by the Confederate Steaniei', "Alabama,' 
Admiral Semmes Commanding. 

(136) 



CHAPTER XV. 

Impressment— Batteries and Gun-boats. 

BEFOKE again taking up the thread of military 
operations it is important to notice briefly the 
"Law of Impressment," which the Confederate Con- 
gress was forced to enact on account of a scarcity of 
provisions. The great grain-producing districts had 
all felt the iron heel of war, and the State of Ken- 
tucky, which had heretofore furnished the principal 
supply of meat to the army, was now in the hands of 
the Federals. Moreover, the paper money of the 
Confederacy, with no assurance back of it save a 
promise to pay six months after the close of the war, 
had been turned loose upon the country to such an 
extent that in the beginning of the year 1863 there 
was $300,000,000 in circulation. Consequently it had 
so decreased in value that one dollar in silver was 
worth four dollars in paper. Furthermore, with the 
scarcity of food and the depreciated value of the cur- 
rency, the South was cursed with the misfortune of 
speculation. Foreigners flooded the country, and 
traded and speculated in the very necessities of life, 
inflating the prices to a very high figure even for 
times of want and scarcity. Therefore, without dis- 

(137) 



138 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G3. 

cussing the nature and condition of sucli matters any 
further, it is very evident what the ultimate results 
and effects should be. And the armies of the South 
fighting so gloriously in the face of such circum- 
stances but adds another evergreen leaf to their lau- 
rel crown of honor. 

Federals Attack Fort McAllister. 
On the 3d of March the enemy made an attack with 
five vessels upon Fort McAllister, on the Ogeechee 
Eiver, near Savannah, Ga. All day they bombarded 
the fort, but at night they withdrew with one of their 
iron-clads considerably damaged, Avhile the fort had 
only one gun dismounted, and within its walls not a 
single life was lost. 

The Federals in Front of Yicksburg. 

"The enemy had three distinct projects for com- 
passing the capture of Vicksburg. First, the canal 
across the isthmus opposite the city; secondly, the 
project of getting through the Yazoo Pass; thirdly, 
the Lake Providence canal project. It had been all 
the time their principal aim to get in the rear or be- 
low Vicksburg. Their present plan was to get 
through the Yazoo Pass in the hope of getting in our 
rear and cutting off our supplies. Their idea was to 
flank Yicksburg, capture Jackson, cut off Grenada, 
and destroy all possibility of our getting supplies 
throughout that rich country by one bold stroke." 



1863. IMPRESSMENT— BATTERIES AND GUN-BOATS. 139 

On the 13tli of March they began active operations 
by an attack with their gun-boats on that part of the 
Confederate works known as Fort Pemberton, situ- 
ated in a bend of the Tallahatchie Eiver. After four 
hours of heavy fighting they were repulsed, which 
thwarted their project of getting to the lower Yazoo 
by this route. This unexpected defeat produced a 
lull in the operations of the enemy in the immediate 
vicinity of Yicksburg. However, they next turned 
their attention to Port Hudson, " a strongly fortified 
position on the lower Mississippi, about sixteen miles 
above Baton Eouge, and three hundred below Vicks- 
burg." Accordingly, six magnificent ships were fitted 
out, and on the night of March 15, under the command 
of Admiral Farragut, they attempted to pass the bat- 
teries, which were located upon a high bluff. Si- 
lently these mighty war monsters passed on, with 
each man waiting intently at his gun ; but they were 
discovered when just opposite the batteries, and the 
alarm was given. Immediately the ships opened the 
thunders of their artillery upon the Confederates, 
who endured the fire in silence until they all got 
within easy range, when they let loose such a storm 
of shot and shell upon the enemy that it soon be- 
came evident that it meant destruction for the ships 
to pass. Therefore all except the " Hartford " turned 
around and began to steam back in the midst of a fire 
that furnished a grand scene as shell after shell cut 



140 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G3. 

its bright way through the darkness of the night. 
All managed to escape, more or less injured, except 
the "Mississippi," whose rudder was broken and ma- 
chinery so damaged that she floated aimlessly to the 
opposite shore, giving the batteries a good opportu- 
nity to tear her literally to pieces. Most of her crew 
succeeded in escaping, but the wounded were left on 
board the doomed vessel, which floated off down the 
river, and when near Baton Rouge her magazine ex- 
ploded, sending to the bottom of the river one of the 
most magnificent ships of the United States Navy. 

During the time of these engagements in the AVest 
the armies both in Virginia and in Tennessee only 
watched each other, without any offensive movements 
being made on either side. But the monotony was 
somewhat broken by a force of the enemy three thou- 
sand strong crossing the Rappahannock River at Kel- 
ly's Ford on the morning of March 17. They contin- 
ued their march until within six miles of Culpepper 
Court-house, when they were attacked by General 
Fitzhugh Lee's Brigade, and after several hours of 
hard fighting they were routed and driven back. 
The Confederates lost in killed and wounded about 
one hundred men, among whom was the youthful and 
gallant Major Pelham, of Alabama, who, although but 
twenty-two years of age, had been through all the 
battles in Virginia, and had won that enduring fame 
and honor which only comes to men after long expe- 



18G3. IMPRESSMENT— BATTERIES AND GUN-BOATS. 141 

rience and service of many 3^ears. Peace be to the 
ashes of this "boy major!" and may the roses of 
immortality ever bloom over his grave, inasmuch as 
he typified in his own person and death all of that 
fresh, glorious, young manhood of the South that 
went down in the awful struggle, even though they 
wore not upon their shoulders the straps of rank, and 
lie in nameless graves! 

The Federals Eepulsed from Charleston. 

To the minds of the Federals Charleston, S. C, 
was the "cradle of the rebellion." Therefore its cap- 
ture was to them a matter of supreme importance. 
With this in view, for many months they had been 
bending their energies toward a signal and decisive 
attack upon this city. The known purpose and de- 
signs of the enemy had kept the citizens of Charles- 
ton in a state of suspense until three o'clock in the. 
afternoon of April 7, when a part of the enemy's 
fleet, which consisted of more than seventy vessels, 
moved to attack Fort Sumter. The joy of an antici- 
pated victory took the place of doubt and suspense 
when, in the midst of the strains of " Dixie," the iron 
throats of our cannon spoke forth their volleys of 
death and destruction. The fleet advanced in two 
divisions, lead respectively by the iron-clads, " Iron- 
sides" and "Keokuk," which delivered a tremendous 
fire upon the walls of both Forts Sumter and Morris, 



l42 THE CIVIL WAR. 1863. 

and in return tbey received a crushing tempest of 
iron hail from the heavy guns of tlie two forts, so 
that they were forced to withdraw out of range. So 
effective, indeed, was the fire of the Confederates un- 
der the skillful Beauregard that it was discovered on 
the next day that the "Keokuk" had been sunk near 
Morris Island. Thus the enemy had been brilliantly 
repulsed from Charleston, with a loss on the part of 
the defenders of only one man killed and five wound- 
ed. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Chancellorsville—Vicksburg— Gettysburg. 

AS the different attempts upon Eichmond failed, 
it was the custom of the Federal Government 
to take each unsuccessful general from command, and 
to supply his place with a new one. It now became 
General Hooker's turn to try the fortunes of war with 
the sagacious Lee. Accordingly, with an army be- 
hind him which he himself said was " the finest on 
the planet," on Monday, April 26, he began the 
crossing of the Eappahannock in three large divis- 
ions. One was to cross at Kelly's Ford; another at 
Deep Run, three miles below Fredericksburg; and a 
third at United States Ford, "just below the conflu- 
ence of the Rappahannock and Rapidan." By Thurs- 
day, April 29, Hooker had successfully accomplished 
all of these movements, and had fortified himself in 
a strong position "across the turnpike and plank 
road at Chancellorsville, eleven miles from Freder- 
icksburg, in order to cut off our anticipated retreat 
in the direction of Gordonsville." These arrange- 
ments and plans on the part of the Federals did not 
escape the watchful eye of General Lee, and as soon 

as it was discovered that the enemy had crossed the 

(143) 



144 THE CIVIL WAR. 1863. 

river at Kelly's and Ellis's Fords Wright's Brigade 
was ordered to the support of the Confederate forces, 
eight thousand in number, under Generals Anderson, 
Posey, and Mahone, who " had been for several weeks 
stationed in the neighborhood of Ely's Ford, on the 
Rapidaii, and the United States Ford, on the Kappa- 
hannock, guarding the approaches to Fredericksburg 
in that direction." During the night of Thursday, 
April 29, General Lee himself, with Anderson's and 
McLaw's Divisions, took a position in front of the 
enemy, while he sent General Jackson around to gain 
their rear. This skillful movement was successfully 
accomplished by the afternoon of May 2, when Jack- 
son hurled his veterans against the enemy's right 
and rear. Sigel's Corps of Germans was the unfortu- 
nate portion of the Federal army that received Jack- 
son's characteristic charge, which threw them in con- 
fusion upon the guns of Anderson's and McLaw's 
Divisions, through whose lines they attempted to 
break, but only to be sent back in a panic-stricken 
retreat toward the river. There was now a lull in 
the battle until nine o'clock, when General Stuart 
took command, Generals Jackson and Hill both hav- 
ing been wounded. In accordance with instructions 
from the former, General Stuart continued to batter 
the right wing of the enemy until he had driven it in 
upon the center. At daylight Sunday morning the 
battle was renewed by the Confederates making a 



1863. CHANCELLOKSVILLE. 145 

gallant charge upon the fortifications and rifle-pits of 
the Federals. With that same grand courage that 
had always marked them, they swept the enemy be- 
fore them in rout and confusion. The Confederates 
now seemed to be on the point of a great and deci- 
sive victory, and General Lee moved his forces to the 
plank-road above Chancellorsville. 

But while thus successful in this part of their lines 
the Confederates were defeated at Fredericksburg, 
where Barksdale's Brigade and Early's Division 
held a position extending from Mayre's Hill to Ham- 
ilton's Crossing. With two thousand troops, the 
Washington Artillery, and Bead's Battery, stationed 
on a hill, General Barksdale occupied the left wing. 
Against these small numbers the enemy hurled Gib- 
bins's Division and Sedgewick's Corps, twenty thou- 
sand strong. Three times did they throw the weight 
of their immense numbers upon the brave little band 
on the heights, and each time they were sent back 
broken in ranks, with their dead lying thick on the 
hill-side. About nine o'clock in the day, under the 
pretense of carrying back their wounded, the enemy 
sent a flag of truce, and by that means learned how 
very few were the defenders of the heights. They 
at once, therefore, with Gibbins's entire command, 
attacked the left, which was held by Colonel Hum- 
phreys with the Twenty-first Mississippi Regiment. 
After a heroic resistance on the side of the Confed- 
10 



146 THE CIVIL WAR. 



1863. 



erates the overwhelming numbers of the enemy pre- 
vailed. 

Hearing of this reverse, General Lee turned his 
attention for the time from Hooker, and sent Ander- 
son's and McLaw's Divisions to put a stop upon the 
progress of Sedge wick, which they succeeded in do- 
ing, when night put an end to the contest. The next 
day the enemy prepared to renew the battle by con- 
centrating their forces against the left flank of Mc- 
Law's Division. In doing this, however, they weak- 
ened their own left, of which General Lee at once 
proceeded to take advantage by massing Early's 
and Anderson's Divisions at this point, and as the 
red glow of the setting sun colored the western sky 
the boys in gray once more charged the enemy and 
sent them shattered and broken to Banks's Ford, thus 
brilliantly putting an end to this series of conflicts on 
the 4th of May. 

But it was the purpose of General Lee not to let 
the contest end here, and accordingly he began the 
disposition of his troops so as to completely destroy 
the army of Hooker. Fortunately, however, for the 
latter a violent storm set in, which caused a lull in 
General Lee's operations, and allowed the Federals 
to escape across the river. 

To sum up the fruits of the victory, an army of 
fifty thousand men had met and put to rout an army 
" variously estimated at from one hundred thousand 



1863. CHANCELLOESYILLE. 147 

to one hundred and fifty thousand." Besides, the 
Confederates had taken large amounts of supplies, 
seven thousand prisoners, four thousand stands of 
arms, and had punished the enemy to the extent of 
twenty-five thousand in killed and wounded. But 
the sun of victory was clouded. To the Confederate 
soldiers the laurels of Chancellorsville will ever be 
draped in the sable hue of mourning for their ideal 
leader— great even among the greatest of earth's 
great captains— who laid down his command to enlist 
in that immortal army where battles and wars are not 

known. 

Death of General Jackson. 

About eight o'clock Saturday night, May 2, as 
*' Stonewall " Jackson was returning into his line, ac- 
companied by his staff, being mistaken for a cavalry 
detachment of the enemy, they were fired into by the 
first line of Confederate skirmishers. General Jack- 
son received three balls — two in the left arm and one 
through the palm of the right hand. He was borne 
from the field much exhausted from loss of blood. 
He rallied, however, and his arm was amputated. 
This operation was successfully accomplished, and it 
was thought that the soldier would live to fight other 
battles in behalf of the cause which to him was al- 
most as sacred as the religion that shaped and direct- 
ed every action of his life. But unfortunately, in a 
few days pneumonia set in, and by the eighth day 



148 THE CIVIL WAR. 1863. 

from the time he had received his wounds it was 
seen that he was dying. With the wife of his heart 
by his bedside, and filled with that ever abiding faith 
in the great God of battles as the disposer of all 
tilings for the best, Thomas J. Jackson, the grandest 
soldier in the greatest war of modern times, laid 
aside the earthly part of himself, and entered into 
that inheritance prepared for those who live pure and 
undefiled before God and man. "His last thoughts 
vibrated between religious subjects and the battle- 
field: now asking some question about the Bible or 
Church history; and then giving an order — 'Pass 
the infantry to the front;' 'Tell Major Hawks to 
send forward provisions to the men;' 'Let us cross 
over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees ' 
— until at last the gallant spirit gently passed over 
the dark river, and entered into its rest." 

Loss OF YlCKSBURG. 

It now becomes necessary to again return to the 
progress of events on the Mississippi River. Begin- 
ning on the 1st of May, the enemy had successively 
defeated the Confederates at Port Gibson, Bayou 
Pierre, captured Jackson, the capital of the State of 
Mississippi, fought and driven back the Confeder- 
ates at Baker's Creek and Big Black Bridge, and by 
the 18th had succeeded in investing Vicksburg. On 
the 21st General Grant made a general attack upon 



1863. VICKSBUEG. 149 

the Confederate fortifications, but was repulsed with 
great loss. He then settled himself down for a long 
siege, which the defenders of the city felt perfectly 
confident they could endure. The siege was con- 
tinued until July 4, when the whole country was 
horrified by the announcement that Yicksburg had 
surrendered, throwing into the hands of the Federals 
twenty thousand prisoners. The causes that led to 
the giving up of this the key to the whole lower Mis- 
sissippi region have been much discussed; but it 
will be sufficient here to say that the garrison were 
worn out and exhausted, and General Pemberton, 
learning that the enemy were contemplating a gener- 
al assault, rather than expose his weakened troops to 
the horrors of a slaughter that must necessarily fol- 
low from their condition, turned the city over to the 

Federals. 

Invasion of Pennsylvania. 

Returning again to Yirginia, General Ewell had 
followed up the success at Chancellorsville by falling 
upon General Milroy at Winchester and Martins- 
burg. Of this Federal defeat the Xeiv York Herald 
gave the following account: 

Not a thing was saved except that which was worn upon the 
persons of the troops. Three entire batteries of field artillery 
and one battery of siege guns — in fact, all the artillery of the 
command — about two hundred and eighty wagons, over one 
thousand two hundred horses and mules, all the commissary 
and quartermaster's stores and ammunition of all kinds, over six 



150 THE CIVIL WAR. 1863. 

thousand muskets and small-arms without stint, the private 
baggage of officers and men— all fell into the hands of the ene- 
my. Of the seven thousand men of the command, but from 
sixteen hundred to two thousand have as yet arrived here, 
leaving to be accounted for five thousand men. 

From this position Ewell moved rapidly up the 
Potomac Kiver, followed by Longstreet and Hill. 
These movements threw the North into the greatest 
confusion, for they feared that the Confederates 
meant a prompt attack upon Washington. But Gen- 
eral Lee contented himself with the invasion of 
Pennsylvania, though not after the manner of the 
Federal troops, who had pillaged and robbed every 
Southern State through which they had passed. In 
keeping with the magnanimity of his great heart, 
General Lee protected the lives and the property of 
the citizens of Pennsylvania, when he might have 
retaliated for the burned homes, the desolated fields 
that had been left in the track of the enemy through 
a land which had been blessed by the lavish hand of 
nature and the skillful hand of art, but which now 
seemed like one of the earth's waste places. 

Battle of Gettysburg. 
General Lee's line of march was brought to a stop 
on the 1st of July by the enemy confronting him at 
Gettysburg, with General Meade in command. The 
Federals immediately began with an attack upon A. 
P. Hill's and a part of Ewell's Corps, but they were 



18G3. GETTYSBURG. 151 

driven back to the mountains soutli of the town. 
With this the first day's fight ended. On the follow- 
ing day (Thursday) each army seemed to wait for 
the other to attack, until late in the afternoon, when 
Longstreet took the initiative by hurling his coi"ps 
against the Federal left on Round Top Hill. For 
four long hours the awful storm of battle raged, and 
when night came it was found that both sides had 
sustained a frightful loss of life, with nothing deci- 
sive gained by either. Each army was now straining 
every nerve to the utmost tension for the memorable 
struggle of Friday. The Federal position was an al- 
most impregnable one on the heights south of Get- 
tysburg. "All the heights and every advantageous 
position along the entire line wdiere artillery could 
be massed or a battery planted frowned down upon 
the Confederates through brows of brass and iron. 
On the slopes of this mountain occurred one of the 
most terrific contests of modern times, in which three 
hundred cannon were belching forth their thunders 
at one time, and nearly two hundred thousand mus- 
kets were being discharged as rapidly as men hurried 
with excitement and passion could load them." Early 
in the morning this grand spectacle began, continuing 
all day, with only an intermission of a few hours from 
about ten o'clock to about one o'clock. The principal 
attack of the Confederates was directed against the 
enemy's center. Pickett's Division of Virginians, 



152 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G3. 

supported by Heth's Division, under the command of 
General Pettigrew on the left, and Wilson's Brigade 
on the right, charged this position, and that charge 
made "Pickett's Virginians " a synonym for all those 
qualities of knightly courage and superb endurance 
which put a nimbus of divine glory around the sol- 
diers' conduct upon the battle-field. On these devot- 
ed sons of the "Old Dominion" pressed in the face 
of a fire which was so rapid and continuous that it 
seemed but one solid, unbroken sheet of flame that 
was scorching to the earth line after line, like the 
grass on the Western prairie is consumed. But they 
never faltered until they set their battle-stained flag 
upon the Federal fortifications. All in vain was their 
sacrifice, for the enemy moved heavy columns toward 
their rear, and, having victory in their grasp, unsup- 
ported, they were compelled to fall back. But there 
was no confusion in the retreat, even though the mor- 
tality in tlieir lines was greater than it was daring 
the charge. They reached their own lines; and the 
dead with which they strewed the field is a noble 
testimony to their valor. "Every brigadier in the 
division was killed or wounded. Out of twenty reg- 
imental officers only^ two escaped unhurt. The 
colonels of five Virginia regiments were killed. The 
Ninth Virginia went in two hundred and fifty strong, 
and came out with only thirty-eight men." 

The Federal loss in killed, wounded, and missing 



1863. GETTYSBURG. 153 

is given at twenty-three thousand, while the Confed- 
erate loss, though terrible enough, was hardly this 
much. 

After the battle of Gettysburg General Lee left in 
the hands of the enemy the palm of a doubtful vic- 
tory, and conducted an orderly retreat back into Vir- 
ginia. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Siege of Charleston— Morgan's Raid. 

NOT satisfied with the repulse of their fleet from 
Charleston April 7, the enemy, under General 
Gilmore, now determined upon vigorous operations 
by putting the city in a state of siege. Immediately 
after their reverse the Federals in large force occu- 
pied Folly Island, constructing in secret works which 
would enable them to drive the Confederate batteries 
from Morris Island. Not anticipating the move- 
ments of the enemy which were to follow, so many 
troops had been drawn from General Beauregard to 
strengthen other positions that he was left with a 
force inadequate for the defense and maintenance of 
all his batteries in the harbor. Having finished on 
the morning of August 10, under cover of darkness, 
the erection of their fort, the enemy opened with 
their batteries upon Fort Morris, and sent a detach- 
ment on foot to attack Fort Wagner. This latter ex- 
pedition came to grief, for when the fire of the heavy 
guns of the fort was turned upon them they broke 
and ran in confusion, with a considerable loss of life. 
This reverse, however, did not thwart the purposes of 
the enemy, for, gaining a foot-hold on Morris Island, 
(154) 



1863. SIEGE OF CHARLESTON — MORGAN'S RAID. 155 

they constructed a battery at a distance of a little 
over a mile and a half from Fort Wagner. From 
this position and the one on Black Island, together 
with their Heet of monitors and gun-boats, at the 
dawn of day, August 18, they turned the thunders of 
their guns upon the Confederate fort. All day the 
bombardment was kept up, old Fort Sumter and 
Battery Gregg, at Cummin gs's Point, contributing 
their share of the awful din of the cannonading. 
But when the shadows of evening began to fall the 
Federals moved an infantry column, with a negro 
regiment in front, to attack the fort. With a de- 
structive fire thinning their ranks, they pushed their 
way with signal gallantry to the walls of the fort, and 
began to clamber over the breastworks. Here a des- 
perate and bloody hand-to-hand encounter took place. 
As fast as the Confederates would beat back one line 
of their assailants another fresh line would take their 
place. But finally, after lining the parapet walls with 
their dead, the enemy gave way, and beat a full re- 
treat across the beach in the darkness. However, 
the Federals were not yet prepared to give up the fort 
without another struggle. Consequently in less than 
half an hour the defenders of the fort found them- 
selves again battling with a fresh column of the ene- 
my; but the latter were repulsed even more disas- 
trously than those who had participated in the first 
attack, for they left behind between two and three 



156 THE CIVIL WAR. 1863. 

hundred prisoners. In both of these attacks the en- 
emy gave their mortality at fifteen hundred and fifty, 
while the Confederates only suffered to the extent of 
a little over one hundred in killed and wounded. 

Despairing of taking the forts by attack and bom- 
bardment, the Federal general resorted to other 
means hardly in keeping with the most approved 
methods of civilized warfare. On the 21st of Au- 
gust he informed General Beauregard in an unsigned 
note that unless Fort Sumter and Morris Island were 
evacuated within four hours he would turn his guns 
upon the city of Charleston. Without giving the 
necessary time for a reply, General Gilmore carried 
out his threat by actually sending his missiles of 
death into the midst of the defenseless city. Beaure- 
gard's reply to the act is worthy to be recorded here: 

It would appear, sir, that, despairing of reducing these works, 
you now resort to the novel means of turning your guns against 
the old men, the women and the children, and the hospitals of 
the sleeping city. . . . And your omission to attach your 
signature to such a grave paper (the demand for the evacuation 
of the forts) must show the recklessness of the course upon 
which you have ventured, while the fact that you knowingly 
fixed a limit for receiving an answer to your demand, which 
made it almost beyond the possibility of receiving an answer 
in that time, and that you actually did open fire and throw a 
number of the most destructive missiles ever used in war into 
the midst of a city taken unawares and filled with sleeping 
women and children, will give you a bad eminence in history, 
even in the history of this war. 



1863. SIEGE OF CHARLESTON — MORGAN'S RAID. 157 

For three days (August 21, 22, and 23) the enemy 
kept up a continuous fire upon the walls of Fort 
Sumter, doing considerable damage. Meanwhile 
they not only did not cease their efforts against Fort 
Wagner, but on the 5th of September they also 
turned their attention to Fort Moultrie and Battery 
Gregg. Upon the latter they made an especially 
vigorous attack by trying to get in the rear of the 
fortifications; but they were repulsed by the effective 
fire from the fort, and were forced to give up their at- 
tempt. But both Morris Island and Battery Gregg 
had suffered so much from this continuous bombard- 
ment of over fifty days that, perceiving that they 
were no longer tenable, on the night of September 6 
General Beauregard accomplished a successful evac- 
uation, leaving these two positions, which had been 
so long coveted, in the hands of the Federals. Two 
days later Admiral Dahlgreen, the commander of the 
Federal fleet, sent a demand to General Beauregard 
for the immediate surrender of Fort Sumter, to which 
the reply was given that they could have it when they 
took it. With this, at one o'clock on the morning of 
September 9 the enemy began to assail the walls of 
the old fort that had so long stood between them and 
their much longed for prize. The Charleston Bat- 
talion, under Major Elliot, were watching and wait- 
ing, and they reserved their fire until their assailants 
were close upon them, when they opened upon them 



158 THE CIVIL WAR. 1863. 

with such volleys that this "ruin" (as the Federal 
commanders had reported to the Government at 
Washington) seemed fairly vocal with the thunder of 
weapons that meant death to the Federals. How- 
ever, the latter managed to land, and for half an 
hour engaged the Confederates in a stubborn hand- 
to-hand contest, when they were forced to surrender. 
The Federal reserve line, which had been left in the 
boat, pulled off and escaped, though followed by the 
shells that Fort Moultrie sent whistling after them. 
With not the loss of a single life, the Confederates 
found in their possession as the fruits of the conflict 
one hundred and twenty men, including twelve ofii- 
cers, with five stands of colors. 

General Morgan's Kaid. 

Leaving for a time the city of Charleston to the 
fruitless attacks of the enemy, on the other side of 
the mountains General John Morgan was preparing 
to set out from Sparta, Tenn., with only two thousand 
troops, for that romantic raid of his into Ohio and 
Indiana. He began his exploits by attacking the 
enemy at Green River Bridge on July 4; but their 
fortifications were too strong, and he had to content 
himself with the capture of Lebanon on the next day, 
in which he took six hundred men and many stores 
and arms. In the gallant charge which he made 
upon this place his brother, Lieutenant Thomas 



1863. SIEGE OF CHARLESTON — MOEGAN'S RAID. 159 

Morgan, fell mortally wounded with these words on 
his lips: "Brother Cally, they have killed me." 

Thence Morgan proceeded through Central Ken- 
tucky to Bardstow^n, taking a company of cavalry as 
prisoners. There is a peculiar and striking feature 
connected with the Confederate advance through this 
portion of Kentucky, in that they were in the midst 
of their own homes and were forced to carry war 
upon friends and neighbors, or even father, brother, 
or other kinsmen who may have espoused the Fed- 
eral cause, while they themselves were following the 
banner of the "Southern Cross." These divisions of 
family in Kentucky even marred the relation of hus- 
band and wife, for the narrator of these events knew 
personally of a case where the husband was a gallant 
soldier of the Confederacy and the wife was an effi- 
cient and valued spy in the service of the Federal 
army. Under such circumstances many a Kentucky 
mother has mourned a soldier-boy whose heart's best 
blood stained a gray jacket at Shiloh, and another 
perhaps lay upon the same dread field with his body 
wrapped in blue for his winding sheet. 

But General Morgan continued his march, threat- 
ening Louisville, and crossing the Ohio Eiver at 
Brandenburg. On the 8th of July die captured the 
Indiana town of Corydon, with six hundred prison- 
ers. Thence, destroying railroads, telegraph commu- 
nications, and all manner of Government stores, he 



160 THE CIVIL WAR. 1863. 

advanced into the interior of the State, creating the 
greatest amount of consternation and terror among 
the astonished Federals. 

Learning that the enemy were concentrating large 
forces at Indianapolis, New Albany, and Mitchell, 
Morgan left Indiana, and entered the borders of 
Ohio, throwing Cincinnati into a spasm of fear. He 
proceeded to harass the enemy as he had done in the 
former State, until at Pomeroy he encountered the 
Federals several thousand strong. Leaving part of 
his forces to hold these in check, with the main body 
he attempted to cross the river at Buffington Island 
early on the morning of July 18. Prevented from 
accomplishing this undertaking by the gun-boats of 
the enemy, he again tried farther up the river at 
Bellville, but only succeeded in getting about two 
hundred of his command across. These latter 
managed to make their escape back to the Confeder- 
ate lines, but most of the others who had been left on 
the other side of the river fell into the hands of the 
enemy, among whom was the gallant Morgan him- 
self, who was captured after an exciting chase near 
West Point, and confined in the Ohio penitentiary 
until the 20th of November, when, with six of his 
officers, he effected his escape by digging out with 
knives. 

Though the end of this expedition is to be accounted 
a failure', yet, relatively, the two thousand prisoners 



]863. SIEGE OF CHARLESTON— MORGAN'S RAID. 161 

which fell to the Federals were more than compen- 
sated for by the loss which this intrepid cavalryman 
inflicted upon them; for he had overrun two large, 
rich States, throwing them into a state of complete 
demoralization, stopping all trade, business, farming, , 
destroying railroads, bridges, public property, steam- 
boats, and telegraph systems, all of which in the ag- 
gregate will amount to many millions of dollars. 
Consequently the capture of General Morgan and 
his men by the Federals is deprived of most of its 
glory in that it came too late, for the purposes of the 

invasion were virtually accomplished. 
11 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Chickamauga— Martial Law in Kentucky. 

THE preceding chapters in regard to military 
events in the West seem to furnish a striking 
contrast to the brilliant successes in Virginia. After 
the battle of Murfreesbpro General Bragg had fallen 
l)ack to Tullahoma. Thence he proceeded to War- 
trace and Shelbyville, with his army much weakened 
by the forces which had been drawn from, it to 
strengthen the South-west. By a flank movement 
on the 27th of June the enemy forced the Confeder- 
ates to fall back to Chattanooga. General Bosecrans 
slowly followed with his army of seventy thousand 
men,' arriving at Stevenson and Bridgeport by Au- 
gust 20. 

At the same time another movement was in prog- 
ress against the Confederates. General Burnside, 
with an army of at least twenty-five thousand men, , 
moved from Kentucky against Knoxville, Tenn., 
which was held by General Buckner with five thou- 
sand troops. Feeling his inability to cope with such 
large numbers, the latter evacuated the city, and 
moved to join General Bragg at Chattanooga, leav- 
ing, however, at Cumberland Gap General Frazier 



18G3. CHICKAMAUGA. 163 

with two thousand troops. Against this position the 
Federals turned their attention, and on the 9th of 
September General Frazier, without firing a single 
gun, surrendered the garrison into the hands ol: the 
enemy. This movement was a painful surprise to tlie 
whole country, and even to the garrison themselves; 
for it was thought that the position could have been 
held against the force with which the enemy w^ere in- 
vesting it. 

Battle of Chickamauga. 

While General Burnside was pressing General 
Buckner in front, General Bosecrans had sent a 
corps up the Sequatchie Valley to give him a blow 
in his rear. Though somewhat re- enforced. General 
Buckner's command was not yet large enough to 
meet the enemy, so he retreated to Hiwassee. The 
purpose of the Federals seemed to be to threaten the 
Confederate rear; but the latter, though having at 
the highest estimate but thirty-five thousand men, 
determined to offer battle at the first opportunity. 
Therefore, on the 7th of S^tember General D. H. 
Hill moved with his corps to La Fayette, and General 
Buckner, with the Army of East Tennessee, and Gen- 
eral Walker, with a division of the Army of Missis- 
sippi, took a position at Anderson, while General 
Polk concentrated his forces at Lee & Gordon's 
Mills. Meanwhile the enemy's left, under General 
Crittenden, swung around in the direction of Chatta- 



164 THE CIVIL WAR. 1863. 

iiooga, with General Thomas's Corps moving toward 
La Fayette, and by the 9th they had crossed Lookout 
Mountain into McLemore's Cove. Appreciating at 
once the error of the Federals in allowing Thomas's 
Corps to become thus separated from the main army, 
General Bragg ordered General Hindman to attack 
the enemy, and General Hill to co-operate; but the 
latter, believing it to be impossible to get his com- 
mand through the gaps in the mountains on account 
of obstructions, failed to unite his forces with those 
of Hindman on the morning of the 10th. In hot 
haste General Buckner was ordered to fill the com- 
mand which had been given to General Hill, and by 
evening he succeeded in joining General Hindman at 
Davis's Cross Eoads; but it was too late. The Fed- 
erals, perceiving their almost fatal mistake, by a se- 
ries of rapid marches managed to restore their scat- 
tered divisions, and by Saturday, September 19, they 
held a position in the Chickamauga Valley, with a 
creek of the same name separating them from the 
Confederates, who had been re-enforced by General 
Johnston with two brigades from Mississippi and 
five brigades from General Longstreet's Corps of 
Virginians. The enemy opened the battle by hurl- 
ing a large force upon General Walker's Corps, 
which held a position on General Buckner's extreme 
right. The Confederates repulsed the enemy and 
drove them some distance, but were themselves being 



1863. CHICKAMAUGA. 165 

forced back, when they were re-enforcecl by General 
Cheatham's Division, which had been held in re- 
serve. The battle became general along the whole 
line. Generals Stewart, Cleburne, and Hood had 
each driven the enemy before him, and in some 
cases had penetrated far into their lines. With this 
auspicious beginning the Confederates gathered their 
energies together for a grand victory on the next day. 
The following was the disposition of the troops: The 
right wing, under General Polk, consisted of Gen- 
eral Hill's Corps, composed of Cleburne's, Breck- 
inridge's, Cheatham's, and Walker's Divisions; the 
left wing, under General Longstreet, consisted of 
Generals Johnston, Preston, and Buckner's Corps, 
General Hindman's Division, Bennings's, Lane's, 
Robertson's, Kershaw's, and Humphries's Brigades. 
At ten o'clock Breckinridge and Cleburne moved for- 
ward against the rude fortifications which the Feder- 
als had erected during the night. Magnificently did 
they make the attack, and they were on the point of 
overwhelming General Thomas, who held the left, 
when re-enforcements arrived in time to save him. 
All along the line the battle raged with terrible fury, 
the enemy gradually giving way before the enthusi- 
astic Confederates. Late in the afternoon the latter 
in one solid column swept forward against the enemy. 
With a cheer which seemed to shake the mountains, 
inspired by the memories of their forced retreat from 



166 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G3. 

Murfreesboro before this same army which now con- 
fronted them, they began their victorious advance. 
Like a storm-cloud ready to let loose its torrents, the 
Federals saw these gray masses rushing toward them. 
Men of Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Ala- 
bama, and Tennessee stood side by side in an un- 
broken, unfaltering line, and, like a swollen torrent 
of the mountains upon which they fought, they liter- 
ally hurled the enemy before them, and sent them in 
rout and confusion toward Missionary Ridge. Never 
was a victory more complete. That bright Septem- 
ber moon looked down upon the shattered wreck of 
Rosecrans's thoroughly beaten army and the Confed- 
erates tenting upon the well-won field, full of the en- 
thusiasm that comes from a contest nobly fought and 
gained. It is said that "General Forrest had climbed 
a tree, and from his lofty perch watched the retreat- 
ing enemy. He saw the blue uniforms swarming 
over the fields, and the disorganized masses of the 
enemy choked with flight and struggling with mortal 
panic as sounds of feeble pursuit followed on their 
heels. He shouted to a staff oflicer: 'Tell General 
Bragg to advance the whole army; the enemy is 
onrs.'" The Federals left in the hands of the con- 
quering Confederates "eight thousand prisoners, fif- 
ty-one pieces of artillery, fifteen thousand stands of 
small-arms, and quantities of ammunition, with wag- 
ons, ambulances, teams, medicines, hospital stores, 



1803. MARTIAL LAW IN KENTUCKY. 167 

etc., in large quantities." Among the dead on the 
Confederate side were Generals Helm, Preston 
Smith, and James Deshler, and the gallant Hood 
was so severely wounded as to make tlie amputation 
of his thigh necessary. 

On the 23d of September General Bragg moved 
his army from Chattanooga, crossing over Missionary 
Eidge, where he rested several weeks, leaving the 
enemy in possession of Chattanooga, where they re- 
organized their army and fortified themselves. 

Martial Law in Kentucky. 

The State of Kentucky at all times seemed to have 
more than her share of the evils and misfortunes in- 
cident to the war. Her people, being equally divid- 
ed between Southern and Northern sympathies, were 
kept in a continued state of disturbance. Failing to 
oppress the Southern sympathizers, such influence 
was brought to bear upon Governor McGofiin that in 
August, 1862, he resigned his position. When the 
elections came round for the following year General 
Burnside had taken matters into his own hands, and 
declared the State under martial law. The following 
are some examples of the orders which he issued: 

1. By way of precaution the people are informed that when- 
ever any property is needed for the use of the United States 
army it will be taken from rebel sympathizers, and receipts giv- 
en for the same marked "disloyal," and to be paid for at the 
end of the war on proof that the holder is a loyal man. 



168 THE CIVIL WAR. 1863. 

2. Rebel sympathizers are defined to be not only those who 
are in favor of secession, but also those who are not in favor of 
a vigorous prosecution of the war, and of furnishing men and 
money unconditionally for that purpose. " Loyalty " is to be 
proved by the vote given at the election. 

3. County judges are required to appoint none but " loyal " 
men as judges of election, notwithstanding the provisions of our 
laws which require officers of election to be taken equally from 
each political party. 

4. Persons offering to vote, whose votes may be rejected by 
the judges, are notified that they will be immediately arrested 
by the military. 

5. Judges of election are notified that they will be arrested 
and held responsible by the military should they permit any 
disloyal'man to vote. 

These orders are here quoted at greater length and 
are given more attention perhaps than they deserve, 
but they serve to show the line of procedure to which 
the Federal Government had at this time committed 
itself in the management of any free and sovereign 
State over which it might gain the power. They 
show that the life, liberty, freedom, and the posses- 
sion of one's goods and property were put in strange 
jeopardy, even for war times. Therefore, with such 
pressure as this brought to bear upon the citizens of 
Kentucky, the candidate who was elected (Mr. Bram- 
lette) was virtually an appointee of the Federal Gov- 
ernment forced into the executive office by the strong 
arm of the military. With such a fate as this which 
befell the noble State of the "dark and bloody 



1863. MARTIx\.L LAW IN KENTUCKY. 1G9 

ground" staring them in the face, one ceases to won- 
der at that almost superhuman endurance with which 
the South so repeatedly hurled back from her bor- 
ders the vast and inexhaustible numbers which the 
enemy were sending against her in one constant 
stream ; and that she only ended her efforts when 
completely worn out, like the best-tempered steel, 
which from long usage and the continued action of 
the elements finally loses its strength and breaks. 

But not only did the Confederacy have to contend 
with the North itself, but also indirectly with the 
powers of Europe; for they, especially England, 
made invidious distinctions between the two Gov- 
ernments. In fact, while allowing the Federals to 
recruit their armies from her dominions and to get 
ammunition and supplies, the British Government 
seized upon two ships which were in course of con- 
struction at Birkenhead for the Confederacy. Thus 
it can be seen how much the more is that struggle 
remarkable which the South, unaided and alone, 
maintained against one of the strongest powers of 
modern times that marshalled its forces at her very 
doors. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Rappahannock— Missionary Ridge. 

AT the begiiniiiig of this chapter, before again tak- 
ing up the thread of active military operations 
on the land, a brief account of the navy of the Con- 
federate States, which has heretofore been playing 
such an important part, would not be out of place. 
At the beginning of the war the South was not only 
virtually without a fleet, but also the means of con- 
structing one. But at once recognizing the impor- 
tance of ships for coast and river defenses, she had 
directed her energies in this direction, and now had 
succeeded in floating about seventy-two vessels, with 
twenty-nine in process of construction. This enumer- 
ation includes ships of every description. With this 
navy, since the beginning of the war, the Confederacy 
had succeeded in capturing over one hundred and 
fifty Federal ships, which, with their cargoes, will 
aggregate a total damage of many millions of dollars. 

Skirmishes on the Kappahannock. 

Eetreating from Pennsylvania, General Lee had 
taken a position on the Eapidan, from which place 
he moved on the 9th of October with the purpose of 
(170) 



1863. EAPPAHANNOCK — MISSIONARY lilDGE. 171 

engaging the enemy who were in the vicinity of Cul- 
pepper Court-house, and on the 10th his right, under 
General Stuart, met the advance line of the enemy at 
James City and drove them back in the direction of 
their main body at Culpepper Court-house. On reach- 
ing the latter place on the 11th, General Lee found 
that the enemy had withdrawn toward the Rappahan- 
nock. However, General Stuart did not relax his 
pursuit, and continued to harass their rear. Gen- 
eral Fitzhugh Lee, who had been left to guard the 
Rapidan, met a detachment of the enemy who had 
crossed the river, and drove them as far as Brandy 
Station, where, on the evening of the lltli, he was 
joined by General Stuart. With their united com- 
mands they pushed the cavalry of the Federals to 
the other side of the Rajjpahannock. Continuing his 
march with the main army. General Lee reached the 
Rappahannock at Warrenton Springs on the after- 
noon of the 12th. Here the enemy made a spasmodic 
resistance, but were soon put to flight by the Confed- 
erate cavalry. This pursuit was kept up for three or 
four days, and was marked by frequent and severe 
skirmishes, especially at Bristoe's Station, where Gen- 
eral Hill, with two brigades, was repulsed by a supe- 
rior force of the enemy behind a railroad embank- 
ment. Besides a considerable loss in killed and 
wounded, General Hill left in the hands of the ene- 
my quite a number of prisoners. Finding that he 

ft 



172 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G3. 

had failed in his purpose to flank General Meade, 
and that the latter was so near the intrenchments at 
Washington that it would be utterly impossible to 
get between him and them, General Lee, on the 18th, 
again withdrew his army to the Rappahannock. 

When the army first set upon the movements just 
related General Imboden had been sent down the 
valley to protect General Lee's left against any prob- 
able attacks of the enemy from that direction. With 
a brilliancy and dispatch he carried out these plans, 
and while the main body of the army was on the re- 
treat on the 18th, he surrounded the town of Charles- 
town, where a force of the enemy were fortified in the 
court-house and jail. To General Imboden's sum- 
mons to surrender, Colonel Simpson, the Federal 
commander, replied: "Take me if you can." A few 
shells, however, from the Confederate batteries, 
showed the utter vanity of this boastful response by 
forcing the enemy from these positions. The latter 
fled in the direction of Harper's Ferry, but were 
checked by the Eighteenth Cavalry and a detach- 
ment of infantry. After a short conflict, the Feder- 
als surrendered themselves to the number of over 
four hundred. Re-enforcements from Harper's Fer- 
ry now came to their support, but too late to be of 
service. The gallant Imboden retired before their 
largely superior numbers, but kept possession of his 
spoils and prisoners. 

I 



18G3. RAPPAHANNOCK— MISSIONARY RIDGE. 173 

General Lee's army now held a position " on both 
sides of the Orange and Alexandria railroad, General 
Swell's Corps on the right and General Hill's on the 
left, with cavalry on each flank." Above the rail- 
road bridge the Confederate general had fortified 
two hills on each side of the Rappahannock in order 
to prevent any flank movement on the part of the 
Federals. In the meantime the latter continued to 
rebuild the railroad which the Confederates had de- 
stroyed, and by the 6th it was discovered that they 
were approaching the river with the intention of fight- 
ing their way across. They fell upon General Eodes 
with the Second and Thirtieth North Carolina Regi- 
ments, stationed at Kelley's Ford, and drove the latter 
regiment to some buildings near the river, where they 
captured them. The enemy were also directing their 
attention to the Confederate rifle-pits at the bridge 
on the north bank, which was occupied by Colonel 
Godwin with one brigade, and General Hayes, also 
with one brigade. Anticipating an attack, the artil- 
lery was moved to the front, and General A. P. Hill's 
Corps, with Anderson's and Early's Divisions, were 
kept on the alert. The enemy, however, had planned 
a surprise, and under the cover of darkness they 
hurled their overwhelming numbers against the troops 
stationed on the north bank of the river. In a triple 
line they made their attack. Their first column melted 
away before the destructive fire of the Confederates, 



174 THE CIVIL WAR. 1863. 

but had every bullet that sped from that little band 
defending the pits found a lodgment in a human 
breast, they could not even then have maintained 
themselves against such a force of numbers, that by 
their very weight pushed them from their position 
and surrounded them on all sides. Right gallantly, 
however, did they fight, with a courage that comes of 
desperation. Many were captured and a few cut their 
way through the almost solid lines which surrounded 
them, swam the river, and made their escape. This 
reverse caused General Lee to withdraw his forces to 
the south side of the Eapidan, where, on the 27th of 
November, that portion of his army drawn up at Ger- 
mania Ford was attacked by a large force of the en- 
emy under General French. In this contest the Fed- 
erals again attempted a surprise; but they did not 
meet with that success which had crowned their ef- 
forts in the former attack on the Rappahannock, for 
they were driven, back with great loss — perhaps 
double that of the Confederates, which was four 
hundred and fifty in killed and wounded. This re- 
pulse seemed to put an end to General Meade's de- 
signs of engaging General Lee in a decisive battle. 

Missionary Ridge. 

The defeat at Chickamanga cost General Rosecrans 
his command, for on the 18th of October he v/as su- 
perseded by General U. S. Grant, who at once pro- 



1863. RAPPAHANNOCK— MISSIONARY RIDGE. 175 

ceeded to Chattanooga, where the Federal forces were 
practically invested by General Bragg. Moreover, 
the Confederate cavalry were keeping the enemy in a 
continued state of alarm by their continuous and con- 
stant raids — especially that one of General Wheeler 
in the direction of McMinnville and Shelbyville, in 
which he captured a large number of prisoners, de- 
stroyed many bridges, and took much stores and sup- 
plies wdiich the enemy could ill spare at this time. 

On reaching Chattanooga General Grant immedi- 
ately put new life into the dispirited Federals, and 
on the 28th of October he sent General Hooker into 
the Lookout Valley with the Eleventh Corps and one 
division of the Twelfth Corps; and he also succeeded 
in getting possession of the range of hills at the en- 
trance to this valley. The Confederates, however, did 
not permit these movements to proceed entirely in 
peace, for on the night of the 29tli six regiments of 
troops fell upon the enemy, but after a gallant attack 
they were forced to retire on finding that they were 
engaged with the entire Twelfth Corps, under Gen- 
eral Slocum. In the early j^art of November General 
Bragg sent General Longstreet with his forces to at- 
tack General Burnside at Knoxville. Immediately 
u.pon hearing of this movement General Grant de- 
termined to attack the Confederates at once in their 
weakened condition. General Bragg had taken up a 
position on the top of Missionary Eidge, which was 



176 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G3. 

between four and six hundred feet in height, and had 
posted his troops " along the crest of the ridge from 
McFarland's Gap ahnost to the mouth of the Chicka- 
mauga, a distance of six miles or more." Ke-enforced 
by General Sherman, the Federals consumed the 23d 
and 24th of November in getting their forces in posi- 
tion for a general attack, and on the 25th, with a 
magnificent army of eighty-five thousand men, they 
moved against the Confederates, who numbered less 
than one-half that amount. At ten o'clock the enemy 
hurled their heavy double columns, supported by 
large reserves, against the left under General Har- 
dee, which consisted of Generals Cleburne's, Walk- 
er's (commanded by General Gist), Cheatham's, and 
Stevenson's Divisions. As became the \'eterans of 
Shiloh and Chickamauga, did these tried divisions 
maintain themselves against two successive assaults 
of the enemy, gallantly holding their position. But 
the left, commanded by General Breckinridge, did 
not fare so well when the Federals fell upon them 
about twelve o'clock. At first it seemed as if the lat- 
ter were going to be served in the same manner as 
the brave Hardee had served them on the right; but 
somehow a brigade in the center gave way, allowing 
the enemy to get a foot-hold upon the crest of the 
ridge and to turn their fire upon our flanks. Soon 
the whole left broke and retreated, and the day was 
lost and the victory at Chickamauga rendered fruit- 



18G3. RAPPAHANNOCK— MISSIONARY RIDGE. 177 

less save as an exhibition of grand courage. Though 
General Hardee had been decisively victorious in his 
encounter with the Federals, the complete disaster on 
the left made his success vain and fruitless, so the 
night of the 25th found General Bragg in retreat i^i 
the direction of Dalton, Ga., with Cleburne and his 
division guarding the rear. The latter's remarkably 
skillful, brave, and successful performance of this 
duty casts a brilliancy over an otherwise gloomy and 
disastrous movement. To make their victory more 
complete, the enemy had sent a picked division of 
ten thousand men in pursuit, which the Confederates 
managed to repulse at every point, and especially at 
Taylor's Eidge did General Thomas's advance come 
to grief. Here General Cleburne concealed his ar- 
tillery and planted his infantry on both sides of the 
road and when the enemy came very close upon them, 
with both heavy guns and muskets the Confederates 
turned loose such a fire that it fairly cut them to 
pieces and caused them to break and flee in confu- 
sion, leaving scattered upon the bloody road one 
thousand five hundred killed and wounded as an ev- 
idence that they had entered literally into the very 
jaws of death. Moreover, the brave Cleburne had in 
his possession two hundred and fifty prisoners and 
three battle-flags belonging to the enemy; and the 
latter showed their appreciation of this sanguinary 

lesson by ceasing at once from any further pursuit. 
12 



178 THE CIVIL WAR. 1863. 

General Longstreet had been sent against Knox- 
ville with hardly eleven thousand men, and with but 
an insufficient amount of supplies and means of trans- 
portation for even these. However, this did not daunt 
the hero of so many Virginia battles; but, by taking 
large am^ounts of booty at Lenoir and Bean's Stations 
and in the Clinch Valley, he succeeded in forcing 
the enemy to assist him in the maintenance of his 
army. By the IStli of November he had driven the 
advance line of the Federals into the shelter of their 
works, and thus had Knoxville completely invested, 
with every probability of an early surrender, when 
the news of the fatal field of Missionary Ridge made 
it either necessary for him to make an immediate as- 
sault or to retreat. The former course was decided 
upon; and accordingly, at the break of day on the 
morning of the 29th of November, three brigades of 
McLaw's Division moved against that part of the 
Federal works known as Fort Sanders. Over a 
ground obstructed with stumps and wires ingenious- 
ly prepared by the enemy to throw the assaulting 
column into confusion, the gallant fellows moved in 
the midst of a hail-storm of death, which put in 
mourning many a home in Mississippi, Georgia, and 
South Carolina, from which the men who made up 
this division were draAvn. However, with their com- 
rades falling around them like the leaves of the for- 
est when swept by an autumn gale, they pressed upon 



1863. RAPPAHANNOCK— MISSIONARY RIDGE. 179 

the fortifications and planted their own banner side 
by side with the flag of the enemy. But unavailing 
was this superb and unsurpassed courage, and, leav- 
ing their dead a-nd wounded to the number of one 
thousand, they fell back. Upon this failure General 
Longstreet took up his line of march in the direction 
of Kogersville, with the enemy following as far as 
Bean's Station, wdiere the Confederates halted long 
enough to repulse them, driving them back a dis- 
tance of twelve miles, and reminding them that 
the veterans of Fredericksburg and Manassas were 
still in a condition to punish them with a severe de- 
feat. General Longstreet then proceeded to overrun 
all the extreme North-east of the State, maintaining 
his army upon the spoils of the country. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Minor Operations in the West. 

THOUGH the operations in the extreme South- 
west were upon a small scale, when compared 
with the scenes that were being enacted upon the 
great theaters of war in the East, yet the record of 
how the Southern soldier fought — the story of his 
noble struggle for four long years against an enemy 
so many times his superior in point of numbers- 
would be strangely lacking should one omit to weave 
into the chronicle of events how, on the 8th of Sep- 
tember, the little garrison at Sabine Pass, between 
Louisiana and Texas, won their victory. This fort, 
though only mounting three guns, was attacked by a 
fleet of five gun-boats. However, they directed their 
fire so well that in a short time they had disabled one 
of the gun-boats and forced two others to surrender. 
Thus, with not the loss of a single man, they had 
gained a victory the fruits of which were, besides the 
two boats, two hundred men arid fifteen cannons. 

Many volumes might be written of those gallant 
but irregular bands that swept up and down this 
whole Western country, too few in number to risk a 

general and open encounter with the enemy. About 

(180) 



1863. 



MINOR OPERATIONS IN THE WEST. 181 



all of their actions, their manner of life, their hair- 
breadth escapes, their heroic refusal to bow to the 
iron heel of oppression, preferring the long ride, the 
midnight surprise, choosing to be houseless and 
homeless, wanderers and outcasts from the lands 
they loved, hunted like the beasts of the forest, as 
mercilessly slain when found, there is the atmosphere 
of romantic fiction rather than the sober, uncolored 
record of history. Therefore one will have to content 
himself only with this passing tribute to their devo- 
tion to the cause they loved, with relating only one 
characteristic incident which took place near Fort 
Smith, Ark. While Qaantrell and his band of "guer- 
rillas " were in the neighborhood of the fort. General 
Blount, accompanied by two hundred cavalrymen, 
rode out to meet them, thinking that they were Fed- 
eral soldiers. Too late did they discover their fatal 
mistake. With the fierce swoop of an eagle these 
defenders of individual rights and the independence 
of the separate States in the far West were upon 
them, and soon had almost swept the entire command 
from the face of the earth. 

Virginia and Tennessee Border. 

Near the dividing line between East Tennessee and 
Virginia the Confederate forces of General Jones and 
the Federals under General Averill were battling for 
supremacy in that region. On the 26th of August 



Vo2 THE CIVIL WAR. 1803. 

these two commands met near Dublin, and the first 
day's fight ended without either gaining any decisive 
advantage. However, the enemy renewed the contest 
on the next day, but after two unsuccessful attacks 
they were forced to retreat toward Warm Springs, 
with the Confederates following. The latter lost be- 
tween two and three hundred in killed and wounded, 
but took one hundred and fifty prisoners and one 
piece of artillery. On the 6th of the following month 
the Confederates gained a still more decisive victory 
by surprising the Federals near Kogersville, and 
taking — besides wagons, artillery, and cattle — eight 
hundred and fifty prisoners. While General Kansom 
was performing this brilliant achievement the enemy, 
seven thousand five hundred strong, were sur- 
rounding Colonel W. L. Jackson at Droop Mountain, 
who had under his command only fifteen hundred 
men. But even with this small number he kept the 
enemy at bay for seven hours, marked by a stubborn 
and heroic resistance, when he was forced to retreat 
in the direction of Lewisburg, which retreat he suc- 
cessfully accomplished without the loss of either his 
stores or artillery. The Federal general then made 
a rapid raid into Virginia, destroying many supplies, 
especially at Salem. On his return, however, he was 
met near Covington by Colonel Jackson, who suc- 
ceeded in capturing two hundred of his command, 
though General Averill himself managed to escape. 



1863. MINOR OPERATIONS IN THE WEST. 183 

Lincoln's "Peace Proclamation." 

About this time President Lincoln issued what is 
known as tiie " Peace Proclamation," onlv a few feat- 
ures of which need to be given to show how very in- 
sulting it was to every feeling of honor, and how 
thoroughly humiliating and degrading it would have 
been had the South accepted it: 

Wliereas.in and by the Constitution of the United States it is 
provided that the President shall have power to give reprieves 
and i)ardons for offenses against the United States, except in 
cases of impeachment ; and whereas a rebellion exists, whereby 
the loyal State Governments of several States have for a long time 
been subverted, and many persons have committed and are now 
guilty of treason against the Government of the United States, 
etc. 

In this document tlie complete independence of the 
slaves was further guaranteed, and the following ex- 
ceptions from its provisions were made: 

All who are or shall have been civil or diplomatic officers or 
agents of the so-called Confederate Government ; all who have 
left judicial stations under the United States to aid in the re- 
bellion ; all who are or shall have been naval or military officers 
of the said so-called Confederate Government above the rank of 
colonel in the army or of lieutenant in the navy ; all who left 
seats in the United States Congress to aid in the rebellion, etc. 

Such were the general characteristics of this re- 
markable document. One need not read far to see 
that it was a strange "peace," a peculiar "peace" 
that was ofPered to the " said so-called Confederate 



•184 THE CIVIL WAK. 1863. 

Government." One feels that the generous glow of 
an earnest, magnanimous desire for a cessation of hos- 
tilities which had caused the crimson tide of human 
life to flow out upon many a bloody field was so far 
wanting that one would not be wrong in designating 
it as the "Proclamation of Humiliation" rather than 
of " Peace," for it was like acid to the bleeding wound. 
It meant a confession of treason, of offense against 
civil and moral law. Its acceptation would have been 
at the time like one taking a burning brand and 
stamping upon his own forehead an ineffaceable ac- 
knowledgment of a crime which he had not com- 
mitted. Moreover, the soldiers who had followed 
the glorious fortunes of their commanders through 
the varying scenes of the war were hardly willing to 
give them over to the uncertain fate threatened in this 
proclamation. Consequently this document, couched 
more in the language of flippant boast and vain tri- 
umph than in the sober and dignified terms of a great 
State paper, only served to make the South nerve 
herself for the last grand heroic struggles which only 
sheer exhaustion can conquer. 

Under such circumstances as these, and upon such 
terms, the South never for a moment considered the 
question of peace; therefore, with the heroic purpose 
to die for the principles they had espoused, with a 
steadfast resolve not to willingly submit to a settle- 
ment which would place upon them chains of ever- 



1864. MINOR OPERATIONS IN THE WEST. 185 

lasting disgrace, the people resumed the third year 
of their struggle with a foe which was so numerous 
that it would seem that the Federal armies were like 
the mythical warriors in the Valley of the Walhalla, 
who fought all day, slaying and being slain; but who, 
being restored to life and strength during the night 
by some magical power, renewed their endless battles 
the next morning. 

The year 1864 was opened in Virginia with Gen- 
eral Early's proposed attack upon the Federals for- 
tified at Petersburg in the latter part of January. 
General Eosser, with his brigade, was sent on ahead 
of the main body, and near Petersburg he found a 
wagon-train — ninety-six in number — loaded with a 
vast quantity of important stores of every description 
and guarded by a force of one thousand two hundred 
men, who had taken a position behind a rail fence. 
The prize was too valuable to let slip without a strug- 
gle; so the Confederates charged the enemy, and in 
less than half an hour had them completely routed 
and were in possession of the wagons and their cov- 
eted and needed contents. Thence General Eosser 
turned toward Petersburg, with the intention of as- 
sisting General Early in the attack which they had 
planned upon that city. But the Federals, though 
well fortified, did not have the temerity to risk an en- 
counter with the Confederates, and therefore they 
abandoned the city, and, aided by the darkness, es- 



186 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

caped. This expedition of General Kosser was quite 
profitable, in that he captured, besides the wagon- 
tiain, nearly three hundred prisoners and over one 
thousand five hundred cattle. 

Attack upon New Beene, N. C. 

Immediately following these exploits of the Con- 
federates in the valley was General Pickett's expedi- 
tion against the Federals at New Berne, N. C, which 
resulted hardly less brilliantly than the former. With 
only two brigades, he charged the enemy's outposts 
on Bachelor's Creek, in the vicinity of New Berne, and 
with an impetuous rush he pushed the Federals be- 
fore him, driving them to the shelter of their fortifi- 
cations. During the night a small detachment sur- 
prised and captured one of the finest of the enemy's 
gun-boats moored in the Neuse Kiver. After a brill- 
iant hand-to-hand combat they forced the crew to 
surrender, but were unable to hold the vessel on ac- 
count of the fire from the batteries on the banks; 
therefore, rather^than allow her to fall back into the 
hands of the enemy, they gave her over to the flames, 
and she was soon burned to the water's edge. The 
result of this enterprise was three hundred prison- 
ers with their arms, two fine cannons, and quite a 
goodly quantity of provisions, clothing, camp sup- 
plies, and a number of horses and cattle. 

This series of small victories was continued in an- 



1864. MINOR OPERATIONS IN THE WEST. 187 

other quarter on the 10th and 11th of February. The 
enemy made an attack on the Confederates on John's 
Island, near Charleston, S. C. Being somewhat suc- 
cessful on the 10th, they renewed their efforts on the 
following day, but the Confederates having been re- 
enforced, they were beaten back in confusion. 

Battle of Ocean Pond. 

The month of February was rendered still more 
conspicuous by a victory farther south in the pine 
woods of Florida, and near the clear waters of one of 
her picturesque lakes. General Finnegan, the Con- 
federate commander, had with him a force much too 
small to cope with the Federals, fully eight thousand 
in number, who had come under General Seymour 
from Charleston harbor; therefore the former was 
forced to retreat before the enemy until he was re- 
enforced by General Colquitt, with his brigade and 
other troops, wliich aggregated his command to fully 
five thousand, with which he took a i^osition near 
Ocean Pond and awaited the approach of the enemy. 
They did not have to wait long, for on the afternoon 
of the 20th the latter made their expected attack, 
which was but a repetition of the results which usu- 
ally followed whenever the forces of the two armies 
were approximately equal. The Federals sustained 
themselves for a time, but when the Confederates 
made that furious onslaught so peculiar to them in 



188 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

all their battles from the Potomac to the Eio Grande, 
the Federals fled in rout and confusion in the 
direction of Jacksonville; nor did they make a halt 
until they had put twenty miles between themselves 
and the battle-field upon which they left over three 
hundred dead and wounded, two thousand stands of 
arms, five cannons, and five hundred prisoners. The 
Confederates suffered to the extent of eighty killed, 
and between six and seven hundred wounded. 



' CHAPTER XXI. 

Invasion of Mississippi and Alabama. 

GENERAL GRANT now conceived the design of 
carrying the war more thoroughly into the inte- 
rior of the extreme Southern States, thus destroying 
the great source of Confederate supplies. This plan 
was put into active operation February 1, 1864, by 
General Sherman marching out of Vicksburg with a 
column thirty-five thousand strong, and Generals 
Grierson and Smith proceeding through the north- 
ern part of the State of Mississippi at the head of 
ten thousand cavalry and mounted infantry. The 
objective point of both of these expeditions was the 
city of Mobile, which place was at the same time 
anticipating an attack from the water by the gun- 
boats of the enemy. General Polk was in command 
of the Confederate interests in this quarter, with a 
force not at all adequate to contend with the large 
numbers of the enemy. However, sending General 
Forrest to observe the course of Generals Grierson 
and Smith, he succeeded in holding General Sher- 
man in check long enough to save his supplies and 
to evacuate Meridian, Miss., in good order, and to 
retreat safely to Demopolis, Ala. 

(189) 



190 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

In contending with the other column General For- 
rest added new laurels to his fame as a cavalry lead- 
er. With only a force of less than twenty-five hun- 
dred men it was imperatively necessary for him to 
crush this magnificently equipped cavalry of the en- 
emy, nearly thrice his own in numbers. Near West 
Point this undaunted Tennesseean made a stand, and, 
having x^osted his men irregularly in the bushes, he 
awaited the rush and onslaught of the enemy. As 
the Federals rode to the attack the Confederate rifles 
began to crack, and with these whip-like reports the 
enemy were seen to fall in such alarming rapidity as 
to produce confusion and to check their advance. 
However, they reformed and charged again, but the 
empty saddles still continued to increase to such an 
extent as to spread a contagious terror among them, 
and they gave up the contest and fled. 

Again, at Okolona, on the evening of February 21, 
the Federals made a disastrous attempt to crush 
Forrest's small force. In this conflict the rout of the 
enemy was even more complete than in the first, and 
they turned and fled precipitately in the direction of 
Memphis, with General Gholson pursuing with only 
six hundred men. 

These brilliant successes on the part of the Confed- 
erates prevented General Sherman from reaping any 
of the fruits of his invasion of the State. Therefore 
he was forced to withdraw to Vicksburg his heavy 



1864. INVASION OF MISSISSIPPI ANP ALABAMA. 191 

column, with wliicli he had expected to accomplish 
so much, with very barren laurels resting upon their 
banners. General Polk issued the following account 
of the results of the campaign: 

The concentration of our cavalry on the enemy's cohimn of 
cavalry from West Tennessee formed the turning-point of the 
campaign. That concentration broke down his only means of 
subsisting his infantry. His column was defeated and routed, 
and his whole force compelled to make a hasty retreat. Never 
did a grand campaign, inaugurated with such pretension, termi- 
nate more ingloriously. With a force three times that which 
was opposed to its advance, they have been defeated, and forced 
to leave the field with a loss of men, small-arms, and artillery. 

On the 25th of February the Federals followed this 
'expedition by an attempt on the part of General 
Thomas to push through the Confederate lines upon 
Atlanta. But this movement was checked, and the 
enemy were forced to fall back to Chickamauga. 

Legal Enactments. 
Besides this auspicious beginning in the field, the 
year 1864 was characterized by the enforcement of a 
few important acts of legislation: first, the funding 
of the currency; second, the stopping of further is- 
sues of paper money; third, a provision for greater 
revenues by an increase in taxation; and fourth, the 
sale of six per cent, bonds to the amount of 1500,000,- 
000. In addition to these financial measures the 
"Conscript Law" was revised and more rigorously 
enforced, thus putting the army on a better basis. 



192 the civil war. 1864. 

Federal Cavalry Eaids. 
In Virginia operations were continued by a plan of 
the enemy with a picked body of men to surprise and 
take the city of Kichmond. To consummate this de- 
sign, on the 28th of February there were three expe- 
ditions, under the command of Generals Kilpatrick 
and Custer and Colonel Ulric Dahlgreen, respective- 
ly, having Eichmond for their objective point. Each 
in turn came to grief after having signalized them- 
selves by certain notorious acts of rapine and pillage 
which the true soldier, fighting under any civilized 
flag, would hardly feel himself honored in doing. 
First, General Custer collided with a detachment 
of Stuart's Horse Artillery, under Major Beckham,' 
near Eio Mills, and the result was that, the enemy 
were sent back across the Rivanna Eiver. General 
Kilpatrick, however, managed to get within sight of 
the spires of Eichmond; but he retreated before 
getting in range of the batteries of the outer fortifi- 
cations. The fate of Dahlgreen was rather worse 
than the other two; for, on his way to Eichmond, lie 
was confronted by a local battery and a force of 
clerks and boys, whose first fire scattered his com- 
mand in confusion, with a loss of fifty in killed and 
wounded. He continued his retreat, harassed at 
every point by irregular bands of Confederates, unti^ 
near AValkerton, where he was attacked by Lieuten- 
ant Pollard with a company of rangers, together witl . 



k 



18G4. INVASION OF MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. 193 

a few cavalry under Captain Cox. At the first fire 
Colonel Dalilgreen himself was slain, and his band 
without any order scattered in flight through the 
woods, where most of them were captured by the 
Confederates. Papers found upon the body of the 
dead Federal commander showed how well-laid his 
plans were, and how very atrocious they Avere in re- 
spect to murder and destruction. 

Federal Expeditions from New Orleans and 

ViCKSBURG. 

Transferring the scene of operations to the South- 
west, we find the Federals engaged in the preparation 
of an extensive movement in that quarter, which had 
for its purpose the complete subjugation of the coun- 
try west of the Mississippi River. Accordingly, two 
large forces — one from New Orleans, imder General 
Franklin; the other from Yicksburg, under General 
A. J. Smith — moved westward on the 1st and 10th of 
March respectively. The latter, under General Smith, 
proceeded up Bed River, and on the 14th captured 
Fort De Russy, with nearly three hundred prisoners. 
Thence they advanced up through that rich cotton 
taction, destroying and confiscating many thousands 

; dollars' worth of this valuable commodity, and on 

>e 16th took possession of Alexandria. 

All three divisions of the Federal forces now turned 

Jieir attention to Shreveport as the most important 
13 



194 THE CIVIL WAR. 



1863. 



point in all the South-west region, and were endeav- 
oring to form a junction tliere. However, the Con- 
federates, appreciating the value of this position, were 
determined not to give it up without a struggle. Ac- 
cordingly, on the 8th of April, near the town of 
Mansfield, General Banks was confronted by the 
Confederates under General Kirby Smith. The con- 
test raged stubbornly for several hours; but finally, 
outflanked and being unable to sustain themselves 
against the furious attacks of the Confederates, the 
enemy began to retreat, which soon degenerated into 
a thorough panic, and was continued until re-en- 
forced by General Franklin, who had meantime ar- 
rived. This battle cost the Federals, in killed, 
wounded, and missing, fifteen hundred men, eighteen 
cannon, and wagon-trains containing large quantities 
of supplies. On tlie following day General Banks 
re-organized his forces, and having been further re- 
enforced by the arrival of General A. J. Smith with 
his division, he awaited the on-coming Confederates 
in an open field in which was a small hill, which gave 
the name to the battle — Pleasant Hill. After prelim- 
inary skirmishing all day, the real engagement Avas 
begun by a magnificent charge of the Confederates 
ill a triple line. After pushing the enemy back for 
some distance and capturing one battery. General 
Kirby Smith withdrew his forces to their original 
position, and awaited further developments from the 



18G4. INVASION OF MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. 195 

Federals. But the latter liad suffered too much — 
perhaps two thousand in killed and wounded — to try 
the results of another conflict, and therefore retreat- 
ed to Grand Ecore without having accomplished the 
great purpose of their expedition. Moreover, the 
gallant Kirby Smith, who had made such a signal 
and conspicuous defense, had in his possession as the 
spoils of victory over one thousand wagons, thirty- 
five cannon, and six thousand prisoners. His oppo- 
nent, General Banks, occupied himself during nearly 
all of the month of May in getting his shattered army 
back behind the guns of New Orleans, thus bringing 
to a disastrous conclusion an expedition that had 
promised so much in the beginning. 

Genekal Foerest in Kentucky. 

The Confederates seemed determined to have an 
unbroken line of victories in the West. General 
Forrest, with his band of tireless riders, swept up 
through Kentucky, and on the 12th of April, after a 
refusal of the commander, Major Booth, to surren- 
der, he stormed Fort Pillow, and in half an hour's 
time had slain five hundred of the garrison and capt- 
ured the remainder, together with a large amount of 
stores. This attack upon Fort Pillow the Federals 
have been ever willing to designate as a "massacre." 
It is true that the mortality of the enemy was fear- 
ful, yet when one considers that they failed to take 



196 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G4. 

down their flag, and that the Confederates found op- 
posed to them as a part of the garrison a large num- 
ber of negroes — their former slaves, whom they had 
reared and cared for, and who now turned to bite the 
hand that fed them — then one can appreciate the de- 
termination and thorough exasperation with which 
they fought. The ever restless, enterprising Forrest 
did not stop here, but at once moved against Padu- 
cah, which place he reached on the morning of the 
25th. Driving the Federal force, over two thousand 
strong, back beyond the town, he took possession, 
capturing and destroying vast quantities of stores of 
every description, and then retiring. 

Confederates Eetake Plymouth, N. C. 

Across the mountains in the "Old North State" 
the Confederates were preparing to place yet another 
star in their brilliant constellation of victories. The 
Federals had strongly fortified Plymouth, situated on 
the south bank of the Roanoke River. Against this 
place General Hoke organized an expedition, which 
consisted of three brigades, commanded by General 
Ransom and Colonels Mercer and Terry respective- 
ly, one regiment of cavalry, under Colonel Deariug, 
and seven batteries of artillery, commanded by Ma- 
jor Reid and Colonel Branch. After a forced march 
of seventy-five miles, on the 17th of April the expe- 
dition arrived in the vicinity of the town, and began 



18G4. INVASION OF MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. 197 

operations by turning their artillery upon Warren 
Neck, about a mile above. The result of the bom- 
bardment was considerable damage to the fort and 
the destruction of one of the gun-boats, which had 
come to its help. This was followed by an attack 
upon Fort Wessell the next day, which surrendered 
after a brave resistance. In this assault the noble 
and gallant Colonel Mercer lost his life. At two 
o'clock the next morning the Confederate iron-clad, 
"Albemarle," steamed past the Federal batteries, 
and attacked two of their gun-boats. One of these 
the Confederate vessel sunk, but the other escaped, 
though she sustained much damage. Early on the 
morning of the 28tli a general attack with infantry, 
cavalry, and artillery was made. With cheers the 
Confederates rushed on to victory, taking battery 
after battery until they had driven the enemy from 
the town and were in complete possession of all the 
forts, together with sixteen hundred prisoners, im- 
mense quantities of stores and supplies, and twenty- 
five cannon. Sach was the brilliant and successful 
ending of this expedition against Plymouth. 



CH ARTE R XXI 1. 

In Virginia Again. 

ATTENTION is now once more turned to the 
grand old " Mother State," upon whose bosom 
is soon to take phace the final struggles which are to 
decide the fate of the new Government which has 
been battling so nobly, so superbly for her independ- 
ence. The Federal Government had transferred 
General Grant to the East with the hope and expec- 
tation that he would repeat in this new field that 
characteristic success which had marked his career 
in the West, and had put under him as magnificently 
equipped an army as had ever stepped to the sound of 
martial music. Each side somehow had a premoni- 
tion that this was to be the final and decisive cam- 
paign; that there was going to be a mighty struggle 
in which one cause or the other was going to die. 
The victories that the gray lines had been gaining in 
the South made the Southern heart throb with a new 
hope, into which no element of despair or doubt en- 
tered; therefore it was with buoyant and confident 
step that the veterans of Lee's army marched out to 
meet the two huge columns which General Grant set 

in motion on the 4th of May. On the following day 

(198) ^ 



1864. IN VIRGINIA AGAIN. 199 

they had crossed the Eapidaii and were making an 
attempt to turn General Lee's right flank, which con- 
sisted of General Edward Johnson's Division hold- 
ing a position along a turnpike. The attack of the 
enemy was made with vigor, and for a time it seemed 
as if it would be successful. But their apparent good 
fortune was only temporary, for the break they had 
made in the Confederate lines was soon closed up, 
while at the same time Gordon's Brigade struck them 
a severe blow in front that sent them reeling back in 
confusion. The Federals made a second attack upon 
another part of General Johnson's line — the left — 
but were warmly received by Pegram's and Hayes's 
Brigades, and hurled back after the manner of their 
first attack. Not satisfied with these advances, the 
enemy made a still more determined effort against 
Heth's and Wilcox's Divisions, which lasted from 
three o'clock until dark. But they made no impres- 
sion upon that unbroken line of gray, and it was con- 
fessed from their own stand-point " that no cheer of 
victory swelled through the wilderness that night." 
The next day was consumed in assaults by Generals 
Hill and Longstreet upon Hancock's Corps; but 
though the line of the enemy was broken in several 
places by the effective blows of these two tried corps, 
yet they managed in the main to hold their position. 
Toward evening, however, the Confederates succeeded 
iu capturing a large part of General Seymour's Bri- 



200 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

gade, and this action created among the forces of the 
enemy such consternation tliat at one time it seemed 
that their whole army was on the point of a panic. 
On the following day (the 7th) General Grant moved 
his army in the direction of Fredericksburg, with tiie 
intention, it seems, of taking this route to Eichmond. 
On the 8th, at Spottsylvania Court-house, General 
Warren's Corps received two severe repulses at the 
hands of General Longstreet's Corps, which was now 
under the command of General Anderson, for the 
former had been wounded in the battle two days be- 
fore. This ended matters until Thursday, the 12th, 
when the Federals moved against the Confederate 
fortifications, and before the latter could recover 
themselves they had surrounded and captured nearly 
all of Johnson's Division. It was a critical point. 
The fate of the Confederacy almost hung in the bal- 
ance. The Federals seemed now to be on the point 
of a decisive victory that would throw open the gates 
of Richmond. General Lee rode forward in front of 
the lines he had so often led to conquest and success. 
The scene was dramatis in its subdued intensity. 
He took a position " opposite at the time to the col- 
ors of the Forty-ninth Regiment of Pegram's Bri- 
gade. Not a word did he say. He simply took off his 
hat *as he sat on his charger.' An eye-witness says 
of him: * I never saw a man look so noble or witnessed 
a spectacle so impressive.' At this interesting mo- 




(200; 



1864. IN VIEGINIA AGAIN. 201 

ment General Gordon, spurring liis foaming charger 
to the front, seized the reins of General Lee's horse, 
and turning him around, said: 'General, these are 
Virginians! They have never failed! They never 
will; will you, boys?' Amid loud cries of * No, no! 
General Lee, to the rear!' 'Go back, go back! Gen- 
eral Lee, to the rear! ' General Gordon gave the com- 
mand, 'Forward, charge!'" With this the inspira- 
tion of the battle was upon them. The heroes of 
Jackson were again themselves, and grandly did they 
fight through all that terrible day in a manner fully 
worthy of that grim warrior under whom they had 
swept so gloriously up the valley. The shadows of 
night dropped their dark curtain on a theater upon 
whose stage had been played in awful reality one of 
the fiercest of all the acts in the dread tragedy of this 
war. Ewell, Longstreet, and Hill had flung column 
after column of the enemy back, each time piling the 
ground thick with dead and dying, for the outflow of 
the crimson tide of human life stained between eight- 
een and twenty-five thousand blue uniforms, and per- 
haps seven thousand of the gray. But the enemy 
also had in their possession the three thousand pris- 
oners of Johnson's Division and the twenty pieces of 
artillery captured at the same time. 

While General Grant was thus trying to break Gen- 
eral Lee's front. General Sheridan was sent to co- 
operate with General Butler, who was to move against 



202 THE CIVIL WAll. 1804. 

E-ichmond from the south. On his route to Turkey 
Island on the 10th, at Mud Tavern, he was opposed 
by General J. E. B. Stuart with his cavalry. In this 
encounter the gallant Stuart, the very soul of Vir- 
ginia chivalry, laid down his life for the country for 
which he had done so much and at whose hands he 
deserves a high rank in the calendar of heroic names 
in remembrance of which the South has planted an 
evergreen of immortality. 

On the 6th of May General Butler advanced, with 
a large force and fleet of gun-boats, up the James 
River, and landed and proceeded to intrench himself 
around Drury's Bluff; but he was forced to abandon 
this position when General Beauregard struck him 
such a forcible blow on the right as to crush it, in- 
flicting a loss upon the enemy to the extent of several 
thousand in killed, wounded, and prisoners. 

There was still another feature of the enemy's ex- 
tensive operations in Virginia by which they hoped 
to effect a speedy destruction of the Confederacy. 
General Sigel, with twelve thousand troops, was sent 
up the Shenandoah against Staunton, General Crook 
with six thousand against Dublin, and General Av- 
erill with two thousand five hundred cavalry against 
Wytheville. The first, under General Sigel, felt the 
might of General Breckinridge's army at Newmarket 
when the latter punished him to the extent of a large 
number in killed and wounded, six cannons, and nearly 



18G4. IN VIRGINIA AGAIN. 203 

one thousand stands of arms. At Dublin General 
Crook was sent back in full retreat by General Mc- 
Causland with only a force of one thousand five hun- 
dred. Besides a severe loss in killed and wounded, 
the enemy left in the hands of the Confederates nearly 
seven hundred prisoners. General Averill's attack 
upon Wytheville Avas no more successful, for he was 
repulsed by General Morgan with a heavy loss. Thus 
it will be seen that the plans of the enemy were 
thoroughly and completely baffled at every point and 
brought to naught. 

Cold Harboe. 

On the 18th the guns were again thundering along 
the lines holding the approaches toward Richmond, 
for the tenacity of the Federal commander expressed 
itself in another fruitless assault upon General Sw- 
ell's position. General Grant changed his position 
again and again, but each time the ever- watchful Lee 
threw his insuperable wall of gray between him and 
the devoted city. The former, however, kept testing 
the strength of this Avail by attacks on the 23d and 
25th, and at the same time continued to swing his line 
around until by the 28tli he had his army across the 
Pamunky River, and by the 1st of June was near Cold 
Harbor, with the object for which they had struggled 
so long almost in sight. But the fruition of their 
hopes was yet to be deferred, and the successful con- 
summation of their plans, which seemed now at hand, 



204 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

to be shattered like a crystal fabric of frail glass by 
the blow which they received at Cold Harbor. On 
the morning of Friday, June 3, the enemy massed 
their forces against the Confederates intrenched along 
the Chickahominy. Assault after assault was made, 
and each time the enemy were hurled back, the Con- 
federates retaining every position and giving no evi- 
dence of weakness at any point of their line save in 
one instance on the left, which was quickly repaired. 
Thus the enemy were again made to feel the effect- 
iveness of those blows that had so completely held at 
bay each successive " On to Richmond " expedition. 
The enemy paid the penalty for their attack upon the 
Confederate lines with ten thousand men. 

It seemed now that this leader, whom the North had 
chosen to lead them to a decisive victory, was to fare 
at the hands of General Lee just as his predecessors 
had fared, for from a Federal historian his loss so far 
in this campaign was sixty thousand men, while the 
same authority gives the Confederate loss at a little 
over half that number. 

The Western Part of Virginia. 

The Federals were not satisfied with the repulses 
which they had met in the western part of Virginia. 
Accordingly they prepared a large force and put it 
under command of General Hunter. To oppose this 
force the Confederates could only bring three small 



1864. IN VIRGINIA AGAIN. 205 

divisions — neither large enough to be called an army 
■ — commanded respectively by Breckinridge, McCaus- 
land, and William E. Jones. By the 5th of June the 
enemy had accomplished the capture of Staunton, in 
defense of which the brave and eccentric General 
Jones lost his life. Several days later General Hun- 
ter united to his own command those of Generals 
Cook and Averill, and moved in the direction of 
Lynchburg. 

Attack upon Petersburg. 

General Grant now determined to put forth a 
greater effort for the capture of the city of Peters- 
burg, which had already on the 9tli of June repulsed 
an attack from General Butler. Active preparations 
were begun on the 14th by General Smith with his 
forces assaulting and getting possession of the first 
line of Confederate fortifications on the north-east. 
This was followed on the 16tli by an attack of three 
corps of the Federal army on the front, which were 
not only repulsed, but the Confederates themselves 
became the attacldng party and drove the enemy be- 
fore them and captured some of their artillery, to- 
gether with a large portion of an entire regiment. 
The next day the enemy repeated these tactics with 
the same results, but on the 18th they made one 
more effort to get possession of the city, which, as 
Governor Wise said in the beginning, " is to be and 
shall be defended on her outer walls, on her inner 



206 THE €IVIL WAR. 1864. 

lines, at lier corporation bounds, in every street and 
around every temple of God and altar of man." Three 
times during the day did the enemy hurl their heavy 
columns against the fortifications, but all to no pur- 
pose. The Confederates still held possession, hav- 
ing inflicted upon their opponents a loss of ten thou- 
sand in killed and wounded. 

Other Eeverses of the Enemy. 

The enemy seemed now to be meeting with reverses 
all along their lines. At Port Walthall Junction 
Pickett's Division had struck Gilmore's command a 
blow that put him to flight, while Hampton's Caval- 
ry had served Sheridan in a similar manner on June 
10 at Trevillian Station, and on the 18th Hunter was 
sent back to the mountains, having been repulsed 
from his anticipated attack upon Lynchburg, with a 
loss of thirteen pieces of artillery. South-west Vir- 
ginia was also saved by General Morgan's bold ad- 
vance into Kentucky, which forced the enemy to fol- 
low him in order to protect that State. 

While these ofl'shoots, so to speak, from the main 
stem of General Grant's purposes were being nipped 
in the bud, he himself was made to sufl'er when the 
Confederates under General Anderson fell upon the 
Second and Sixth Corps, penetrated their line, and 
took one battery and one whole brigade. Still anoth- 
er Federal expedition, commanded by Wilson and 



1864. 



IN VIRGINIA AGAIN. 207 



Kautz, came to grief a score of miles south of Pe- 
tersburg. At the hands of Generals Hampton, Ma- 
hone, and Finnegan they lost sixteen hundred 
prisoners, together with artillery, wagons, stores, 
and small-arms. 

General Grant now determined that he must do 
something to retrieve the disasters which were fall- 
ing upon him thick and fast. Therefore he resorted 
to the method of undermining and blowing up the 
principal fortifications around Petersburg. The 
mine was constructed under Cemetery Hill, and at 
half-past four o'clock on the morning of July 30 the 
match was applied, and a mighty gap was rent in the 
earth by the explosion. Simultaneous with this the 
thunders of a hundred guns were opened upon the 
city, which was a signal for a general attack on the 
part of the enemy, hoping to take the Confederates 
unawares. But they discovered how completely they 
had mistaken the latter when they found themselves 
beaten back in rout and confusion, many falling into 
the crater, making with their own dead and dying 
the chasm which they themselves had constructed a 
pit of horrors. This experiment cost General Grant 
over five thousand men, while the loss of the Confed- 
erates was comparatively light— about one thousand 
men. 

The Loss of the "Alabama." 

The ardor of the Confederates, however, was some- 



208 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

what chilled by the loss of their most formidable ship 
of war, the "Alabama," under the command of Cap- 
tain Semmes. On the 19th of June, in the harbor of 
Cherbourg, France, Captain Semmes offered battle to 
the Federal ship, "Kearsarge." The latter was so 
well protected by iron plating and chains that the 
shot of the "Alabama" made little impression upon 
her, while her own shot were so effective that in a 
short time it was discovered that the Confederate 
vessel was in a sinking condition, and Captain Semmes 
was forced to haul down his colors. 



CHAPTER XXIIl. 

General Sherman in the South. 

WHILE General Grant was moving against 
Eiclimond, General Sherman was preparing 
for an invasion of the South witli an army of ninety- 
eight thousand men divided into three great divis- 
ions, under Generals Thomas, Schofield, and Mc- 
Pherson. To oppose these mighty columns General 
Johnston could only bring in the field an active army 
of not over forty thousand men. 

General Sherman now moved in the direction of 
Dalton, Ga., and met his first check on the 14tli of 
May in the Eesaca Valley, when he attempted to 
carry tlie Confederate works. The enemy were 
driven back with a loss of two thousand men. Gen- 
eral Johnston gradually fell back before the advanc- 
ing legions of the enemy, but all the time waiting 
and v/atching for an opportunity to strike a blow, if 
the enemy should expose any weak point or commit 
a blunder. By the 20th he had crossed the Etowah 
River, and on the 25th he encountered the fortifica- 
tions of the enemy near Dallas. The latter assumed 
the offensive by hurling Hooker's Corps against 

Stewart's Division at New Hope Church; but after 
14 (209) 



210 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

struggling for two hours to drive the Confederates 
from their position, tlie Federals were repulsed. All 
day during the 26th and until live o'clock in the after- 
noon of the 27tli was consumed in skirmishes between 
the two armies, when the enemy again essayed an as- 
sault upon the Confederates. Cleburne's brave di- 
vision received their attack this time at the hands of 
Howard's Corps. The latter were again beaten back 
wdth an estimated loss of perhaps three thousand 
men, while the Confederates only suffered to the ex- 
tent of four hundred and fifty. 

General Johnston still kept up his brilliantly con- 
ducted retreat, striking the enemy now and then some 
severe blows, until he reached Kennesaw Mountain, 
where he made a stand. The huge column of the 
enemy made a strong attack on the 27th of May, 
but they were met by the veteran troops of Cheat- 
ham's and Cleburne's Divisions of Hardee's Corps, 
together with French's and Featherstone's Divisions 
of Loring's Corps, and the result was that they were 
repulsed with a frightful loss of fully three thousand 
men, according to their own reports. Thence Gener- 
al Johnston was forced to withdraw to the fortifica- 
tions of Atlanta, which the enemy began at once to 
besiege. 

The wise and cautious Johnston was superseded by 
the rash, lion-hearted, but unfortunate Hood, who 
would not patiently endure a siege, but suddenly 



1864. GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE SOUTH. 211 

hurled a column, led by Walker's and Bate's Divis- 
ions of Hardee's Corps, against the enemy's right at 
Peach Tree Creek. Grandly they charged with that 
cheer which had been the sound to which they had 
rushed to many a glorious victory; but with marvel- 
ous rapidity the enemy managed to mass their artil- 
lery upon them, and they were forced to withdraw. 
Two days later, July 22, by a second attack with 
Hardee's Corps the enemy were driven from their 
fortifications, leaving in the hands of the Confed- 
erates nearly two thousand prisoners, twenty-two 
pieces of artillery, and five stands of colors. 

This was followed by an attempt of the enemy to 
destroy the railroads around Atlanta. For this pur- 
pose two forces of cavalry, under Generals Stone- 
man and McCook, were to meet near Lovejoy, and 
fall upon the Confederate cavalry under General 
Wheeler. Both of these expeditions proved to be 
hardly adequate for their task; for General Stone- 
man was encountered near Macon, and he and 
one thousand of his men were captured, while Gen- 
eral McCook managed to escape with a loss of five 
hundred men captured by the Confederates. 

On the 28th of July General Hood made a vigorous 
assault upon the Fifteenth Corps; but he was re- 
pulsed with a loss of fifteen hundred men. How 
grandly the Confederates moved to this attack forced 
from General Sherman the remark: ^'His [Hood's] 



212 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

advance was magnificent.'* For several weeks the 
enemy kept up an almost ceaseless bombardment 
upon the city, until on the 18th of August Sher- 
man moved his line upon the road toward Macon 
in order to cut off General Hood's supplies. The 
latter sent his cavalry, under General Wheeler, to 
harass the Federals. 

Meantime a part of the Confederates, under Gen- 
eral Hardee, had intrenched themselves at Jonesboro, 
a distance of twenty-two miles from that portion un- 
der General Hood at Atlanta. Quickly perceiving 
this unfortunate position of the Confederates, Gen- 
eral Sherman tiirew his army between the two posi- 
tions. By the 30th of August the enemy had suc- 
ceeded in crossing Flint Eiver, and had taken up a 
position near Jonesboro, where they were subjected 
to a fruitless attack from General Hardee. This was 
followed on the 1st of September by an assault from 
the Federals themselves, with a largely superior 
force, and the Confederates found it necessary to re- 
treat in the night, and leave the position in the hands 
of the enemy. On the same day General Hood also 
evacuated Atlanta, and allowed the enemy the posses- 
sion of the prize for which they had been struggling 
for more than three months, but kept at bay by an 
army much less than half their own. The enemy 
now heaped upon the citizens of Atlanta all the mis- 
fortuDes, all the indignities, all the hardships inci- 



1864. GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE SOUTH. 213 

dent to war; and to the pi'otests coming from both 
General Hood and the mayor of Atlanta the Federal 
general would reply that "war is cruelty, and you 
cannot refine it," forgetting that modern, civilized 
warfare had for its arena the battle-field, where either 
the one side or the other prevailed through superior- 
ity in courage and skill, and not the oppression of 
the women and the children in the cities which 
chance or conquest might throw into its hands. 

General Forrest at Guntown. 

A Federal expedition, under General Sturgis, had 
been sent out from Memphis for the purpose of fol- 
lowing in the rear of General Sherman and co-oper- 
ating with him. This force assumed the title of the 
"Avengers of Fort Pillow," and they took this as a 
pretext for robbery, pillage, and murder. But these 
acts were not destined to go on long, for by a singular 
coincidence on the 13th of June they came in contact 
at Guntown with the terrible Forrest and his band, 
who had perpetrated the so-called "massacre " at Fort 
Pillow. Short, sharp, and effective were the blows 
which this redoubtable cavalryman struck, and the 
result was that two thousand of Sturgis's force were 
taken prisoners, and almost as many were killed and 
wounded. 

General Early's Eaid. 

In Virginia the Confederates assumed the offen- 



214 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

sive by General Early's raid into Maryland. On the 
3d of July he moved forward near Harper's Ferry, 
frightening Sigel so badly at Martinsburg that he 
retreated to Sharpsburg, leaving in the hands of the 
Confederates a quantity of valuable stores. After 
two severe engagements the enemy were again forced 
to fall back to Maryland Heights, where they were 
re-enforced by Generals Max Weber and Lew Wal- 
lace; thence they took a position at Monocacy Bridge, 
four miles from Frederick City. Here intrenched 
they were attacked by General Early, and after a 
contest of two hours' duration they were completely 
routed, with a loss of over one thousand in killed and 
wounded and seven hundred prisoners, while the 
Confederates won their victory at the cost of five 
hundred in killed and wounded. 

Thence General Early advanced toward Wash- 
ington, throwing the city into a state of complete 
consternation and terror, for his attack was hourly 
expected. But the Confederates contented them- 
selves with withdrawing across the Potomac, with a 
vast quantity of booty as the fruits of their expedi- 
tion, among which were "firve thousand horses and 
tAventy-five hundred beef cattle." However, the ene- 
my did not allow him to depart in peace, but a force 
fifteen thousand strong, under General Crook, fol- 
lowed him, which General Early turned upon, about 
five miles from Winchester, and thoroughly routed, 



1804. GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE SOUTH. 215 

with a loss of over one tbousand, while he himself 
hardly suffered to the extent of sixty men. 

General John Morgan Invades Kentucky. 

Coincident with General Early's expedition was 
General Morgan's second invasion of the State of 
Kentucky. In rapid succession the Confederates 
captured Paris, Georgetown, Cynthia, Williamstown, 
and Mount Sterling. At the latter place on the 9th 
of June General Morgan encountered General Bur- 
bridge. The Federals had -been in pursuit since the 
Confederates left Pound Gap. This engagement was 
barren of decisive results to either side, and General 
Morgan continued his work of destruction — burning 
the enemy's cars and depots, and capturing two regi- 
ments of prisoners at the town of Cynthia, which w^as 
also destroyed. However, while at breakfast at this 
place on the morning of June 12, the Confederates 
were surprised by the enemy, under General Bur- 
bridge, and, though the former fought nobly for an 
hour, they were defeated, losing six hundred in killed 
and wounded and nearly four hundred prisoners. 

General Price in Missourl 

General Price's raid into Missouri in the latter part 
of the month of September was equally wanting in 
any material benefit. He attacked the enemy, who 
were strongly fortified at Pilot Knob, eighty-six miles 



216 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

soutli of St. Louis, and forced them to evacuate the 
place. The Confederates pursued the Federals as 
far as Eolla and then desisted, and without further 
operations went into winter-quarters. 

The "Peace" Question. 

About this time the question of peace between the 
two sections was again agitated. So much blood was 
being spilled, and so much money spent, that at the 
North, as was made clearly evident from the tone of 
the leading newsjjapers, was growing a strong senti- 
ment toward the establishment of peace on terms 
honorable to both sides. To show what the South 
had done in the effort to put a stop to a war that was 
drawing from the peaceful walks of life over three 
million men, it would be well to quote from a letter 
of President Davis on the subject: 

We hav^e made three distinct eftbrts to commimicate with the 
anthoT'ities at Washington, and huve been invariably unsncc"^ss- 
ful. Commissioners were sent l^efore hostilities were begun, and 
the Washington Government rel'ised to receive them or hear 
what they had to say. A second time I sent a military officer 
with a communication addressed 1 y myself to President Lin- 
coln. The letter was received by General Scott, who did not 
])ermit the officer to see Mr. Lincoln, but promised that an an- 
swer would be sent. No answer has been received. The third 
time, a few months ago, a gentleman was sent whose position, 
character, and reputation were such as to insure his reception 
were not the enemy determii^ed to receive no proposals what- 
ever from the Government. Vice-president Stephens made a 



1864, GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE SOUTH. 217 

patriotic tender of his services in tlie hope of being able to pro- 
mote the cause of humanity ; and although little belief was en- 
tertained of his success, I cheerfully yielded to his suggestion 
that the experiment should be tried. The enemy refused to let 
him pass through their lines or to liold any conference with 
them. He was stopped before he reached Fortress Monroe on 
his way to Washington. To attempt again (in the face of these 
repeated rejections of all conference with us) to send commis- 
sioners or agents to propose peace is to invite insult and con- 
tumeh^, and to subject ourselves to indignities without the 
slightest chance of being listened to. 

This letter is given to sIioav the nature of opinion 
at the Sonth. The people of this section were bat- 
tling for a principle which was, in their eyes, very- 
essential to the freedom and prosperity of Eei3ublican 
institutions; bat, however firm and tenacious their be- 
lief in the righteousness of this principle, even in the 
moment of victory they ever showed themselves wilL 
ing and ready to stop the ceaseless flow of blood upon 
a fair and equitable basis. But on the other hand, 
that party represented by the Government at Wash- 
ington, inasmuch as it had come into power with the 
tide of a war, showed no disposition to treat with 
the Southern States on any but the most humiliat- 
ing terms, and would accept no proposition coming 
from them which looked toward an amicable and hon- 
orable settlement; therefore in regard to the character 
and purpose of this administration words w^ere not 
minced when the Democratic party met in Chicago 



218 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

on the 29tli of August. Mr. Augustus Belmont, from 
New York, said: "Four years of misrule by a sec- 
tional, fanatical, and corrupt party have brought our 
country to the verge of ruin." Senator Bigler, of 
Pennsylvania, expressed the opinion that "the termi- 
nation of Democratic rule in this country was the end 
of the peaceful relations between the States and the 
people. The men now in authority through a feud 
which they liave long maintained with violent and un- 
wise men at the South, because of a blind fanaticism 
about an institution in some of the States, in relation 
to which they have no duties to perform and no re- 
sponsibilities to bear, are utterly incapable of adopt- 
ing the proper means to rescue our country from its 
present lamentable condition." Governor Seymour, 
of New York, made the following arraignment of the 
character of the Government: "They were animated 
by intolerance and fanaticism, and blinded by igno- 
rance of the spirit of our institutions, the character 
of our people, and the condition of our land. . . . 
They will not have the Union restored unless upon 
conditions unknown to the Constitution. . . . We 
are shackled with no hates, no prejudices, no pas- 
sions. We wish for fraternal relations with the peo- 
ple of the South. We demand for them what we de- 
mand for ourselves: the full recognition of the rights 
of the States." 

Thus it will be seen that the crime of loving liberty 



1864. GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE SOUTH. 219 

and hating fanaticism was not confined to the section 
south of the Mason and Dixon line, and that the 
latter only differed from those at the North in that 
they had that courage which has made all individual 
freedom possible, and that they resisted a practical 
subversion of their rights with the might of arms. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Naval Operations— General Grant in Virginia. 

THE port of Mobile, Ala., was a very important 
naval station to tlie Confederacy. Therefore the 
enemy proceeded to invest it by land with a force 
under General Canby, while Admiral Farragut was 
to make the attack by water. The enemy's fleet num- 
bered eighteen vessels, with an armament of over two 
hundred guns and nearly three thousand men. To 
meet this largo squadron, the Confederates could only 
bring three gun-boats and one iron-clad, the " Ten- 
nessee." On the morning of the 5th of August the 
Federals steamed into the harbor, and their entire 
fleet fell upon the "Tennessee," which gallantly re- 
risted with no hopes of success against such numbers 
until she was forced to surrender when completely 
surrounded by the enemy. But the latter did not ac- 
complish their victory without the loss of one of their 
best iron-clads, the "Tecumseh," which was sunk 
by a torpedo, carrying down beneath the waters of the 
gulf her commander, with the most of his crew. On 
the following day the enemy turned their guns upon 
Fort Gaines, Fort Powell having already been taken 

on the 5th. In a short time Fort Gaines capitulated, 

(220) 




The "Sumter" Running tlie Eloctacle, and Chased hy the Federal Ship, 
" Iroquois." 



222 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

repulsed with great slaughter. iThey followed this 
with another attack on Market Heights, with results 
equally disastrous. Another column of the enemy 
succeeded in getting possession of Fort Harrison be- 
fore assistance could reach it, and then they advanced 
upon Fort Gilmer, but the gallant Confederates re- 
pulsed them and sent them back with great loss. 
This action closed the day's fighting, and it was found 
that the enemy had lost over four thousand in killed 
and wounded, with six flags and five hundred prison- 
ers. On the next day (the 30th) General Field made 
an unsuccessful attempt to retake Fort Harrison, but 
owing to a failure of support just at the proper time, 
he was repulsed. 

The dawn of October 6 saw the Confederates with 
General Geary's Brigade of cavalry make a brilliant 
attack upon the enemy's right on the Charles City 
Koad, about five miles from Eichmond. The latter 
were driven back to their works, but the Confederates 
did not stop, but in their enthusiasm they rushed over 
the works, pushing the Federals out, and capturing 
seven hundred prisoners, nine guns, and one hundred 
horses. Again the enemy made another stand at their 
second line of intrenchments; but they melted away 
before the impetuous onslaught of the Confederates, 
and fled to the shelter of the guns of Fort Harrison. 
Ee-enforced, they returned to retake the works from 
which they had been beaten; but the Confederates 



1804. NAVAL OPERATIONS— GRANT IN VIRGINIA. 223 

sent tliem back shattered and broken with terrible 
loss, and night put an end to the contest. 

On the 27th General Grant made an effort to turn 
General Lee's left flank, and was advancing his 
columns by the Williamsburg and Nine Mile roads. 
The works on the latter position had been taken by- 
three brigades of negro troops; but they could not 
maintain themselves long, for Hampton's Legion and 
the Twenty-fourth Virginia drove them back with 
terrible slaughter. On the other road (the Williams- 
burg) the enemy had stationed their batteries, and 
were pouring shots and shells into the Confederate 
works. The latter endured this cannonadins: in 
silence, and thus misled the enemy into making a 
charge. Having reserved their fire until the Fed- 
erals were close upon them, they made the ground 
tremble with the terrific thunder of their artillery 
and musketry, and the enemy broke and fled in con- 
fusion, with a loss, besides a considerable number 
in killed and wounded, of five hundred prisoners. 
Again, the attack upon the gray lines on the Boydton 
road proved no less disastrous to the enemy, for Gen- 
eral Mahone received them so valiantly that he soon 
had them in full retreat, leaving with the Confederates 
as their spoils of victory over four hundred prisoners. 

Thus this human wall was still between the capital 
of the Confederacy and the enemy. With unbroken 
front the latter were met at every point, and in this 



224 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

autumn of 1864 they seemed as far from gaining their 
object as in the fall of 1861. But still the Federal 
general persisted, and made up in tenacity for any 
lack of military genius. Surely he must have had a 
certain premonition that one day these gray veterans 
who flung themselves so often between him and the 
goal of his struggles must inevitably succumb to the 
solid and almost innumerable lines which he was 
throwing around them, however heroically they might 

fight. 

Sheridan's Kaid in the Valley. 

Coincident v/ith his operations in the immediate 
vicinity of the city, the Federal commander adopted 
another plan, which, if successfully consummated, 
would deprive General Lee of his source of supplies 
from the rich, productive valley of the Shenandoah. 
For this purpose General Hunter was superseded on 
the 8th of August by General Sheridan, who had un- 
der his command no less than three corps, together 
with the divisions of Cook, Averill, and Kelly. With 
this large force he proceeded to take possession of 
Martinsburg, Williamsport, and Winchester, Gener- 
al Early falling gradually back before his advance. 
Near Winchester, however, on the 19th of September, 
though outnumbered nearly four to one, the Confed- 
erates made a stand. The enemy moved to the attack, 
and the engagement was stubbornly and hotly contest- 
ed. One division of the enemy was broken and thrown 



18()4. NAVAL OPERATIONS— GRANT IN VIRGINIA. 225 

into confusion, which the Confederates took advantage 
of and charged. A glorious victory seemed ahnost 
in their hands. The impetuous rush of Early's men 
was carrying every thing before it, and the enemy were 
obliged to call in their reserves to the rescue in order , 
to restore their shattered lines. Unfortunately, the en- 
emy fell upon the Confederate cavalry on the left and 
threw it into confusion, which made a retreat neces- 
sary. General Early then took up a strong position 
at Fisher's Hill, whither the enemy followed, and on 
the 22d moved to attack him. With their large num- 
bers the enemy managed to literally surround Gener- 
al Early's command and to force them from their 
intrench m en ts, driving them beyond Port Republic 
with a loss of over seven hundred prisoners. This 
victory left the Federals in complete possession of the 
rich valley, and they at once turned themselves loose 
in it, pillaging and destroying every thing of worth 
and value, so that along their track were ruin and des- 
olation. Farm and manufactory were leveled to the 
earth as if by the breath of a hurricane, and the 
beautiful and picturesque valley, that fairly blos- 
somed like a garden, became as a desert and a waste 
place. 

Battle of Cedar Creek. 

The undaunted Early, in spite of his two defeats, 

was not yet prepared to allow the enemy to rest on 

their laurels without another struggle; therefore we 
15 



226 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

find him again at Fisher's Hill on the 18th of October, 
"with two corps of Sheridan's army in his front on 
the north side of Cedar Creek. Another corps, the 
Sixth, was between Middletown and Newtown. Sher- 
idan himself was at Winchester with his cavalry a 
little withdrawn from the front." By a toilsome, ar- 
duous night march through a mountainous country, 
with the Shenandoah to be crossed twice, General 
Early placed himself in front of the enemy. With a 
gallant, sweeping charge, he struck terror to them, 
taking them completely by surprise, and soon had 
Sheridan's magnificent army of three corps in a con- 
fused, panic-stricken retreat, leaving in the hands of 
the victorious Confederates their camps with one 
thousand five hundred prisoners; but the fatal mis- 
take was made of stopping to plunder the abandoned 
booty of the Federals. This gave them time to re- 
organize their demoralized divisions and to renew the 
battle. Misfortune followed misfortune. In one of 
those inexplainable moments that come to men whose 
courage has been tested upon a hundred battle-fields, 
the followers of Early, that had made illustrious the 
Army of Virginia, gave way in a disordered retreat, 
sustaining a total loss of three thousand while the 
glory of one of the grandest victories of the war was 
just in their grasp. AVith this reverse the larger 
portion of his army was transferred to assist General 
Lee around Kichmond. 



1864. naval operations— geant in virginia. 227 

General Breckinridge in East Tennessee. 
While these important battles were taking place in 
Northern Virginia General Breckinridge had admin- 
istered two severe defeats upon the enemy in the 
South-west — one on the Holston Biver on the 2d of 
October, and one at Morristown, Tenn., on the 18th of 
November. On the 20th of the following month the 
enemy made a raid into Virginia, capturing the salt- 
w^orks at Saltville, and, forcing Colonel Preston to 
evacuate Fort Breckinridge, they sacked the town of 
Abingdon. 



CHAPTER XXV, 

Operations of Generals Sherman and Hood. 

IT now becomes necessary to resume the narrative 
of General Hood's movements after the evacuation 
of Atlanta. In reviewing these forces on the 18th of 
September President Davis had told Cheatham's Di- 
vision to be of good cheer, for within a short while 
their faces would be turned homeward, and their feet 
pressing Tennessee soil. 

Ten days later General Hood took up his line of 
march toward Tennessee, with Sherman following on 
the 3d of October. On the 12th the Confederates 
took Dalton; thence they proceeded to La Fayette; 
and from that place they moved across to Gadsden, 
Ala., pursued by General Sherman as far as Gayles- 
ville. The latter cut himself loose from all commu- 
nication with the North, and took up his celebrated 
movement to the sea, while General Hood advanced 
into Tennessee, driving the enemy constantly before 
him, and forcing General Schofield to fall back from 
Columbia on the 26th of November, with the loss of 
a large quantity of stores. " The retreat to Franklin 
was one of constant fighting. Skirmishing of the 

very heaviest and deadliest character was maintained 

(228) 



1864. OPERATIONS OF SHERMAN AND HOOD. 229 

all the way. Forrest hung like a raging tiger upon 
the rear. . . . The Confederates pressed on — 
Forrest leading, Stewart next, and Cheatham follow- 
ing. Lee was still in the rear, but coming up. The 
enemy were closely pushed, retreated rapidly, and 
left evidences of their haste on every side." In this 
way the march was continued until on the evening 
of November 30, when General Hood found himself 
before the frowning breastworks of the town of 
Franklin. The troops under him were now upon the 
soil of their native State, which had long been in the 
possession of the enemy. They could look around 
them and see the homes that had been denied them 
for many a long day, and for which now at their very 
thresholds they were to do battle. With such incen- 
tives as these urging them to action, at five o'clock 
in the afternoon they began one of the grandest at- 
tacks of the war, an attack illuminated by as sublime 
an exhibition of personal courage from field-officer 
to the humblest private in the ranks as has ever bla- 
zoned the records of human bravery. In the face of 
a fire that tore ghastly gashes in their unfaltering 
column they stormed and drove the enemy from the 
first line of works. Onward they advanced, stopping 
not nor halting however obstinately the enemy might 
resist and however thick might be that awful, bloody 
field of carnage with their own dead. On that crim- 
son battle-ground many a knightly soul went out 



230 THE CIVIL WAR. 1804. 

while within sight of the firesides where their wives 
and little ones were praying and watching for the ab- 
sent soldiers' return. This was the last battle of 
gallant Pat Cleburne, "the bravest of the brave." 
The gallant Gist fell in this conflict, as also did 
Brown, Strahl, Johnson, and Manigault; and though 
the gray dawn of the next day saw the Federal army 
shattered and flying toward Nashvjlle, the victory 
had been dearly bought, and the sacrifice that these 
Tennesseeans offered upon the altars of their country 
was great. 

Battle of Nashville. 

General Hood followed the enemy to Nashville, 
and on the 2d of December proceeded to invest the 
city, where General Thomas was strongly fortified 
with a largely superior force. Therefore, with his 
own numbers largely in excess of those of General 
Hood, General Thomas felt no hesitation in assum- 
ing the offensive. Accordingly, on the 15th he moved 
out his heavy columns against both flanks of the Con- 
federates, but they were beaten off with severe losses. 
Not discouraged by these reverses, they renewed 
the contest on the next day by attacking the entire 
Confederate line. All day the latter resisted grand- 
ly the overwhelming numbers that were being thrown 
against them, and until late in the afternoon it 
seemed that the story of Franklin was to be more 
gloriously repeated. But just at the crisis of the 




Col. John Overton's Residence, General Hood's Head-quarters at the 
Battle of Nashville. 

(230) 



1864. OPERATIONS OF SHERMAN AND HOOD. 231 

battle, when it was almost evident that the " stars and 
bars" were once more going to be graced with the 
laurels o£ victory, a weak, unsupported point in the 
center was crushed by the heavy mass of the enemy. 
This misfortune for the Confederates was a signal for 
a general retreat of the whole army, with the loss of 
fifty cannon and most of the ordnance wagons. With 
this disaster General Hood crossed the Tennessee 
Eiver and entered Mississippi; and at Tupelo, on the 
23d of January, 1835, he resigned the command of 
the army. 

General Sherman's March. 

From this reverse of the Confederates at Nash- 
ville we again turn to General Sherman, whom we 
left beginning his march through Georgia, which the 
Federals regarded as one of the greatest achieve- 
ments of the war. It will not be necessary to go 
into this movement in detail. Its record is written 
in the ruthless desolation of a great State, the pil- 
laging of its citizens, and the destruction of their 
property. 

AVith almost no opposition the enemy swept com- 
pletely across the State, and by the 10th of December 
they were before the fortifications of Savannah, which 
were held by General Hardee with fifteen thousand 
men. Between four and five o'clock on the morning 
of the 13th the enemy stormed and captured the im- 
portant position of Port McAllister. Until the 16th 



232 THE CIVIL WAR. 1864. 

General Sherman kept up a bombardment from all 
sides, both by land and water, when he demanded the 
surrender of the city. This demand General Hardee 
refused to accede to, and on the night of the 20th he 
escaped with his troops, retreating toward Charles- 
ton, and on the following day the enemy took formal 
possession, signalizing the closing days of the year 
1864 with this crashing disaster to the Confederate 
cause. 

Attempts upon Wilmington. 

The next objective point of the enemy was Wil- 
mington, N. C, especially defended by Fort Fisher. 
Therefore on the 23d of December we find Admiral 
Porter before Fort Fisher, with the largest fleet un- 
der his command the Federals had eyer yet assem- 
bled. Operations were begun on the same night by 
the explosion of a "powder" vessel close under the 
walls of the fort, which was expected to destroy it. 
But this ingenious contrivance totally failed of its 
purpose, and the next day was consumed in a heavy 
bombardment, to which the brave garrison responded 
vigorously and warmly. Meantime General Butler 
came up with a land force six thousand five hundred 
strong, which was to attack the fort in conjunction with 
the fleet. All the next day the fleet kept up a terrific 
cannonading, so that the earth trembled as if in the 
throes of an earthquake. But still the defenders of 
the fort worked their guns in a magnificent fashion. 



18G5. OPERATIONS OF SHERMAN AND HOOD. 233 

The land force did not risk an attack, and tliis expe- 
dition proved such a complete failure as to cost Gen- 
eral Butler his command. 

However, the enemy were not content with their 
reverse from such an important point, and by Janu- 
ary 13, 1865, they had another force stronger by two 
thousand men before the walls of Fort Fisher. Dur- 
ing the night they had succeeded in landing and 
throwing up such a strong line of intrenchments that 
General Bragg decided not to attempt to dislodge 
them, but to re-enforce the fort. The continuous 
bombardment from the fleet never ceased, and, with 
their attention thus engaged toward defending them- 
selves from the water, on the night of the 15th the 
garrison were, attacked by an assaulting column four 
thousand strong. In spite of the fact that they were 
worn out and exhausted with the hard and arduous 
labor of manning the guns, for three long hours they 
resisted with a courage born of desperation, until 
the force of numbers compelled them to surrender, 
though indeed not until eight hundred of the enemy 
lay dead and wounded. 

From this victory the Federals did not get imme- 
diate possession of the town of Wilmington, for it 
was not abandoned by General Bragg until the latter 
part of February, when he retreated into the interior 
of the State, and left it in their hands without resist- 
ance. 



234 the civil war. 18g5. 

Fall of Charleston and Columbia. 

Almost one month from liis success at Savannah 
General Sherman again set his column in motion to- 
ward the north, with Charleston as the objective 
point. General Hardee, perceiving that his forces 
were much too small to offer any thing like a suc- 
cessful resistance, and appreciating the importance 
of making a juncture with Generals Beauregard and 
Cheatham, after burning all Government buildings 
and stores, abandoned to the rapacity of the enemy 
the historic, noble old city, which place they entered 
February 18. The indentations of shells, the marks 
of fire, the ruins on every side stood like grand 
though somber and sorrowful monuments to the 
heroism of a people who had endured so bravely and 
so patiently all the horrors and misfortunes that 
come in the train of war — siege and bombardment, 
rapine and murder — yet so noble and eloquent in 
her ruins, so very typical of the whole South, whose 
very scars were a glory and honor t) her, telling a 
grand story of how she had fought and toiled and 
struggled and labored in the face of adverse circum- 
stances. 

Leaving Charleston, General Sherman still contin- 
ued his devastating march. Columbia met even a 
more terrible fate than Charleston. A large portion 
of the town was given to the devouring flames, while 
no part of it escaped the thirst for robbery and plun- 



1865. OPERATIONS OF SHERMAN AND HOOD. 235 

der which had taken complete possession of the Fed- 
eral army. Citizens were rendered houseless and 
homeless, and whatever valuables they had the ene- 
my appropriated to their own use. 

On this band of invaders advanced; nor did they 
abate those tactics that had first characterized their 
entrance into the State of Georgia. On the 6tli of 
March they crossed the Great Pedee Eiver, against 
the towns of Laurel Hill and Montpelier, N. C, 
meeting with no resistance until March 10, when 
General Kilpatrick's forces received a severe blow at 
the hands of General Wade Hampton. On the 16tli 
the enemy came up with General Hardee, who was 
fortified between Cape Fear River and Black Creek. 
The latter gallantly sustained three assaults from 
two corps under General Slocum, and then retreated. 
The severity of this engagement is showed by the 
fact that the enemy lost thirty-three hundred men, 
while the Confederates lost only four hundred and 
fifty. 

Again, three days later, General Johnston made 
another blow for the cause of the State. Right 
bravely was this blow struck upon Slocum, at Ben- 
tonville. Generals Bate's and Cleburne's Divisions 
swept the enemy from two lines of fortifications on 
the right, while Generals Hill and Loring accom- 
plished the same thing on the left. At evening the 
Federals were heavily re-enforced, and, when it was 



236 THE CIVIL WAR. 



1865. 



found on the next morning that they had mtrenched 
themselves, General Johnston declined to renew the 
battle, and retreated in the direction of Kaleigh. 
General Sherman then took up his head-quarters at 
Goldsboro. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

The End. 

THUS now one needs no prophetic eye to see that 
the final act in the great drama is near at hand, 
that the catastrophe is approaching. The North, 
with her mighty hosts, is tightening and drawing in 
the lines. The South, though she had gained vic- 
tory after victory, never had a force adequate to con- 
summate the war in a complete victory for the Con- 
federacy. Therefore, from the beginning it was 
merely a question of time when those very first vic- 
tories themselves, as paradoxical as it may seem, 
hastened defeat; for they cost many lives, and the 
Confederate dead that lay upon the battle-fields of 
Murfreesboro, Shiloh, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, 
and other places could not be replaced with the living; 
whereas the North was rich in men and resources, 
and her armies stretched in an almost unbroken line 
from the Potomac to the Eio Grande. What could a 
Confederate victory avail against such a power, with 
the whole world for a recruiting-ground? The South 
had worn herself literally out with the victories won 
from the enemy ; and now, with a depleted army and 
an exhausted commissary, one only wonders in admi- 

(237) 



238 THE CIVIL WAR. 1865. 

ration that divine courage could so triampli over tlie 
weakness of human physical nature as to enable those 
veterans of the Army of Virginia and of the Army of 
Tennessee to resist so long and so bravely. Grand 
indeed must have been the motives that actuated 
those hearts and caused those arms to strike the su- 
perior forces of the enemy so effectively and terribly 
for four long years of civil warfare. 

Peace Conference. 

Early in the year 1865 a conference took place be- 
tween President Lincoln, Mr. Seward, and three com- 
missioners appointed by President Davis — Messrs. 
Stephens, Campbell, and Hunter. The meeting was 
held on board a steamer anchored in Hampton 
Roads; but the Government at Washington still in- 
sisted upon terms which the Confederacy would not 
accept, and nothing tangible resulted from the con- 
ference. 

Consequently hostilities in Northern Virginia were 
again resumed by Sheridan once more raiding up the 
Shenandoah Valley. Near Waynesboro, toward the 
end of February, he fell upon the weakened rem- 
nants of General Early's Division, defeated them, 
and took as many as thirteen hundred prisoners. 
Thence the Federals proceeded on their course of 
destruction, and finally joined General Meade near 
Petersburg. 



1865. THE END. 239 

Closing Conflicts. 

The enemy still continaed to batter with their huge 
forces the weakened, poorly fed, and ill-clothed lines 
in the immediate vicinity of Richmond. On the 6th 
of February they flung themselves against Pegram's 
Division, and were on the point of overpowering 
it when General Evans arrived with General Gor- 
don's Division. Charge after charge was made, but 
still the enemy managed to maintain themselves 
until the Confederates were further re-enforced by 
General Mahone. With their former enthusiasm 
and spirit they swept the Federals before them in 
confusion to the shelter of their fortifications at 
Hatcher's Run. 

This was followed by a well-planned attack upon 
the enemy's position at Hare's Hill, near Appomat- 
tox. Here again was a glimmer of the glory of the 
former days of the war. Early on the morning of 
March 25 General Gordon surprised and captured a 
considerable portion of the Federal works, repulsing 
brilliantly two successive attacks of their infantry to 
regain them. But the Confederates were forced by 
the artillery which the enemy massed against them 
to abandon the position which they had taken, carry- 
ing back with them, however, seventeen pieces of ar- 
tillery and six hundred prisoners. 

This partial, spasmodic success was more than 
counterbalanced on the 1st and 2d of April by the 



240 THE CIVIL WAR. 18G5. 

blows wLicli the enemy struck against the gray wall 
around Petersburg, now grown so thin that it would 
seem sheer madness for them to attempt to offer resist- 
ance to the heavy, unbroken columns of the Federals. 
However, they fought in the face of despair itself, 
and were pierced by the numerous hosts of the ene- 
my. Here in the closing scenes General A. P. Hill, 
another of the South's great leaders, laid down his 
life for the Confederate cause, and was placed in the 
muster-roll of immortals as one of the heroes in the 
struggle. But yet a greater loss was in store for the 
South. The clouds were gathering to cast their 
shadows over the brightness of that spring day. 
The city of their love, for the defense of which their 
best, their truest blood had been poured out— in 
front of whose fortifications lay the bones of those 
whose return was watched for in the Carolinas, in 
Tennessee, in Georgia, in Louisiana, in Mississippi, 
in Alabama, and in far-off Texas — was soon to be 
given over into the hands of the foeman. 

While President Davis was attending church on the 
2d of April a notice was brought to him from General 
Lee, telling him of the disaster at Petersburg, which 
made the evacuation of Kichmond necessary on that 
very night. As President Davis retired the services 
were put to an end and the dread news soon spread 
all over the city, causing many a cheek to blanch and 
many a strong heart to throb in unspeakable sorrow 



18G5. THE END. 241 

over the loss of this the last stronghold and the only 
hope of tlie 3^oung Government that had lived its life 
in the midst of the troublous times of war. Night 
came, and Richmond was without defenders, and to 
add to the gloom of the situation many large ware- 
houses had been burned by the retreating Confeder- 
ates, that their contents might not fall into the hands 
of the victors. In this conflagration it would seem 
that the hopes which in the moments of victory prom- 
ised a glorious consummation in the formation of a 
free, happy, contented union of individual States, into 
which jealousy, passion, and prejudice could find no 
place, were being consumed and only the dead ashes 
of despair were left them. 

Early on the morning following the evacuation a 
detachment of cavalry from General Weitzel's Divis- 
ion planted the United States flag upon the dome 
of the capitol, and later in the day General Weitzel 
himself entered the city and put it under martial 
law. 

The Surrender. 

The fortunes of the little band under General Lee 
need not be pressed much farther. They were now 
on the north side of the Appomattox River, with the 
enemy pressing and harassing them on all sides, and 
gradually capturing squad after squad of his worn 
and exhausted troops. Against such a force as that of 

the enemy it would be utterly useless for him to hurl 

16 



242 THE CIVIL V/AR. 1865. 

his decimated columns. Moreover, many of Lis men, 
foreseeing tlie inevitable result, bad left the ranks, 
and were seeking to escape to their homes in order to 
avoid subjecting themselves to the humiliation of a 
surrender. The Federal commander himself clearly 
jjerceived the sure doom that awaited the once glori- 
ous army of Northern Yirginia — still grand even in 
the midst of its misfortunes — and on the 7th of April 
sent a demand for the surrender of the troops that 
had made themselves the admiration of the world. 
After a correspondence lasting through two days, the 
following terms were proposed by General Grant, and 
agreed to by General Lee on the 9th: 

Eoll of all officers and men to be made in duplicate, and one 
copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me and the 
other to be retained by such officers as you may designate; the 
officers to give their individual parole not to take up arms against 
the Government of the United iStates until properly exchanged, 
and each company or regimental commander to sign a like parole 
for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public 
l)roperty to l^e packed and stacked and turned over by me to 
officers appointed to receive them. Tliis will not embrace the 
side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. 

This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to 
their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority so 
long as they observe their parole and the laws in force where 
they may reside. 

The conference between General Lee and General 
Grant was held in the residence of Mr. Wilmer Mc- 
Lean, at Appomattox Court-house, The meeting was 




Mr. Wilmcr McLean's Residence, "Where General Lee Surrendered. 

(242) 



18(55. THE END. 243 

of the simplest character. Each conducted himself 
with dignity and courtesy, the Federal Commander 
displaying a magnanimity worthy of recording in that 
he subjected General Lee to no humiliating forms and 
conditions. The result was that General Ijee issued 
the following order to his troops: 

General Order No. 9. 

After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed 
courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been 
compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources. 

I need not tell the brave survivors of so many hard-fought 
])attles who have remained steadfast to the last that I have con- 
sented to this result from no distrust of them ; but feeling that 
valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that would comj^en- 
sate for the loss that must have attended the continuation of the 
contest, I determined to avoid the sacrifice of those whose past 
services have endeared them to their countrymen. 

By the terms of agreement, ofiicers and men can return to 
their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with 
you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty 
faithfully i)erformed; and I earnestly pray that a merciful God 
will extend to you his blessings and protection. 

With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devo- 
tion to your country and a grateful remembrance of your kind 
and generous consideration of myself, I bid you an affectionate 
farewell. R. E. Lee, General. 

April 10, 1865. 

AVith this ends the story of the Army of Northern 
Virginia. A glorious story it is, too. They had fought 
a good fight, and had kept the faith with the country 
and the principles which they had espoused. They 



244 THE CIVIL WAR. 1865. 

did their duty nobly, and liave left to the keeping of 
the land for which they battled the record of their 
sublime devotion and incomparable courage. Taking 
leave of their leader, in whom they ever had a stead- 
fast faith, whether in victory or defeat, they turned 
their weary steps to their desolated homes, where fond 
hearts were waiting to welcome the battle-scarred 
soldier; and with the same grand courage with which 
they had brightened the pages of human history they 
went to work to rehabilitate the wasted farm and the 
deserted workshop. 

The surrender of the other divisions of the Confed- 
erates necessarily followed that of General Lee in 
rapid succession. On the 18th of April General Jo- 
seph E. Johnston surrendered at Durham, N. C; Gen- 
eral Dick Taylor to General Canby at Citronelle, Ala., 
May 4; and General Kirby Smith to the same general 
at Baton Eouge, La., on the 26th. Thus ended the long 
and arduous struggle which the South made for the 
rights which she had under the Constitution, and in 
this struggle those who wore the gray and stepped to 
the inspiring strains of " Dixie " under the banner of 
the Southern cross decked with its stars, have made 
their uniform a symbol of the sublimest courage of 
the soldier and the truest devotion of the patriot. 



APPENDIX. 

HE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. ^^ 



The agitation of the slavery question, in its several aspects, 
with centralization for its great purpose, was a main cause of 
trouble and separation. 

The words of the Constitution were : " No person held to serv- 
ice or labor in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping into 
another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, 
be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered 
up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be 
due." 

Of this clause Judge Story, in delivering the opinion of the 
Supreme Court in Prigg vs. Pennsylvania, said : " It caijnot Ije 
doubted that it constituted a fundamental article, without the 
adoption of which the Union could not have been formed." (16 
Peters.) It must, therefore, of course have been a condition of 
the Union's continuance. 

We will see how this provision of the Constitution was ob- 
served and treated by the abolition or free States. Between the 
years 1810 and 1850, the losses to the South in fugitive slaves 
amounted to $22,000,000, an annual loss for that period of $550,- 
000. The ratio of loss increased as the slave population in- 
creased. To what it amounted at the date of secession I am un- 
able to state just now ; the curious, however, may readily ascer- 
tain. The census for 1810 gave a slave population of 1,191,400 ; 
that of 1820, 1,538,100; that of 1830, 2,009,030; that of 1840, 2,- 
480,500; that of 1850, 3,204,300; that of 1860, 3,979,700. Esti- 

(245) 



24,6 APPENDIX. 

mating the average value at $300, the South lost by emancipa- 
tion $1,193,910,000, exclusive of at least $6,500,000 in fugitives 
between the years 1850 and 1861. 

The claim of the party of coercion that morality justified the 
infliction of that loss on the South is met and fully answered by 
their head, President Lincoln, who said in the Hampton Eoads 
conference that " the people of the North were as responsible 
for slavery as the people of the South." History shows the 
North to be equally responsible at the least, and I undertake to 
say more so, and I feel sure that I am able to prove it should 
it ever become necessary. 

About the 1st of May, 1850, the New York State Vigilance 
Antislavery Committee, of wliich the famous Gerritt Smith w^as 
chairman, held its anniversary meeting in public in the city of 
New York. I give a single passage from its oflacial report: 
"The committee have, within the year since the 1st of May, 
1849, assisted one hundred and fifty-one fugitives (for that, you 
know, is our business) in escaping from servitude." I cite this 
as one of many specimens of the respect the antislavery people 
had for constitutional guarantees and protection. 

In speaking upon the clause of the Constitution just cited, Mr. 
Seward, of New York, said in the Senate of the United States, 
on March 11,1850: "The law of nations disavows such com- 
pacts ; the law of nature, written on the hearts and consciences 
of freemen, repudiates them. I know that there are laws of va- 
rious sorts which regulate the conduct of men; there are consti- 
tutions and statutes, codes mercantile and codes civil ; but when 
w^e are legislating for States, especially when we are founding 
States, all these laws must be brought to the standard of the law 
of God ; must be tried by that standard, and must stand or fall 
by it. To conclude on this point, we are not slave-holders ; we 
cannot, in our judgment, be true Christians or real freemen if we 



THE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. 247 

impose on others a chain that we defy all human power to fasten 
on ourselves." He also said : " Wherein do the strength and 
security of slavery lie ? You answer that they lie in the Con- 
stitution of the United States and the Constitutions and laws of 
the slave-holding States. Not at all. It is in the erroneous 
sentiments of the American people. Constitutions and laws can 
no more rise above the virtue of the people than the limpid 
stream can rise above its spring. Inculcate the love of freedom, 
and the equal rights of man under the paternal roof; see to it 
that tlicy are tauglit in the schools and in the churches ; reform 
your code; extend a cordial welcome to the fugitive who lays 
his weary limbs at your door, and defend him as you would your 
imternal god ; correct your error that slavery has any constitu- 
tional guaranty which may not be released and ought not to be 
relinquished ; say to slavery, when it shows its bond and de- 
mands the pound of flesh, that if it draws one drop of blood, its 
life shall pay the forfeit ; inculcate that free States can maintain 
the rights of hospitality and humanity ; that executive authority 
can forbear to favor slavery." Thus it was urged and attempted 
to be taught that the Constitution was the embodiment of 
crime, and oaths to support it of no effect or binding force ; that 
we must regard such obligations as baubles, as things to deceive, 
as snares to entrap. We were asked to make such doctrines a 
part of our education and a controlling feature of our religion ; 
to make perjury a pillar of Church and State, and the crime of 
larceny a commendable virtue. The seeds so sown bore fruit. 

Article IV., Section 2, of the United States Constitution or- 
dains : "A person charged in any State with treason, felony, or 
otlier crime, who shall flee from justice and be found in another 
State, shall, on demand of the executive authority of the State 
from which he fled, be delivered up to be removed to the State 
having jurisdiction of the crime." 



248 APPENDIX. 

In two instances, Kent and Fairfield, governors of Maine, 
refused to comply with this j^rovision on re^iuisitions by the gov- 
ernor of Georgia for negro thieves. Governor Seward (after- 
ward Senator), of New York, made a similar refusal to the same 
State, saying it was not against the laws of New York to steal a 
Jiegro. He made a similar refusal to Virginia. These governors 
were sworn to support the Constitution of the United States, 
and certainly understood its plain command. 

In 1793, while Washington wq,s President, an act was passed 
to carry out the provision for the return of fugitive slaves. It 
was adopted unanimously in the Senate, and nearly so in the 
House. The Federal and State Courts held it to be constitution- 
al, and yet these governors refused to execute it. 

On January 7, 1861, more than two weeks after South Car- 
olina had passed her ordinance of secession, Mr. Toombs, of 
Georgia, in a speech in the Senate, said : " The Supreme Court 
has decided that by the Constitution we have a right to go to 
the Territories and be protected with our property. Mr. Lin- 
coln says he does not care what the Supreme Court decides, he 
will turn us out anyhow. He says this in his debate with the 
honorable Senator from Illinois (Mr. Douglas) ; I have it before 
me. He says he would vote against the decision of the Supreme 
Court." This charge upon Mr. Lincoln was never denied by 
himself or friends. 

Instances of disregard of the Constitution l)y those sworn to 
observe it might l)e readily multiplied ; but I only want to make 
prominent the principles moving the South to its course. 

Having seen our rights under and by the Constitution, I will 
turn attention to that course. The Southern States claimed tlu>y 
were sovereign, having all powers except such as were specially 
delegated to Congress. They demanded that property in slaves 
should be entitled to the same protection from the Government 



THE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. 249 

of the United States, in all its departments everywhere, which 
the Constitution confers upon it ; the power to extend to any 
other property, provided nothing shall be construed to limit or 
restrain the right now belonging to every State to prohibit, 
abolish, or establish and protect slavery within its limits ; that 
persons committing crimes against slave property in one State 
and fleeing to another shall be delivered up in the same manner 
as persons committing crimes against other property, and that 
the laws of the State from which such persons fled shall be the 
test of criminality ; that Congress should pass efiicient laws for 
the punishment of all persons, in any of the States, who shall 
in any manner aid and abet invasion or insurrection in any oth- 
er State, or commit any other act against the laws of nations 
tending to disturb the tranquillity of the people or government 
of any other State ; that the people of the United States should 
have an equal right to emigrate to and settle in the present or 
any future acquired Territories with wiiatever property they 
might possess, and be protected in its peaceable enjoyment until 
such territory may be admitted into the Union with or without 
slavery, as she may determine, on an equality with all existing 
States, as the Supreme Court had decided, and as the "originally 
small party " now decides in principle, when in its June plat- 
form of 1888 it declares : "The government by Congress of the 
Territories is based upon necessity, only to the end that they be- 
come States in the Union ; therefore, whenever the conditions 
of population, material resources, public intelligence, and moral- 
ity are such as to insure a stable government therein, the people 
of such territories should be permitted to form for themselves 
Constitutions on State government, and be admitted into the 
Union." Time and circumstances work wonderful changes. 
AVhat howds were raised by that party over such doctrines a few 
decades back ! and now with what deafening cheers it greets 



250 APPENDIX. 

them ! How many of you, my friends, ever hoped to hve to see 
the day when the i)arty of coercion would not only indorse, but 
actually adopt, a chief article of your faith in the right and act 
of secession ? I answer, not one ; nevertheless, you have seen 
it. Wonder of wonders ! 

All our demands were reasonable and conformable to the Con- 
stitution ; still they were stubbornly refused by those high in 
authority, who had sworn to supj^ort the Constitution, and who 
were followed in their course by the people they represented. 

After all this, and after South Carolina had seceded, the other 
States of the South were so anxious to continue the Union under 
the Constitution, and to stand by and perpetuate its principles, 
that a peace congress was called. Virginia, taking the lead, called 
that congress, which met in AVashington Citj^ in February, 1861. 
Judge Chase, a teacher of the antislavery movement, afterward 
Mr. Lincoln's Secretary of State, and later Chief-justice of the 
United States, was a delegate to that congress. As such dele- 
gate he, on March 6th, made a speech in which he said : " The 
result of the national canvass which recently terminated in the 
election of Mr. Lincoln has been spoken of by some as the effect 
of sudden impulse or of some irregular excitement of the popu- 
lar mind, and it has been somewhat confidently asserted that, 
upon reflection and consideration, the hastily formed opinions 
which brought about the election will be changed. It has been 
said, also, that subordinate questions of local and temporary char- 
acter have augmented the Republican vote and secured a ma- 
jority which could not have been obtained upon the national 
questions involved in the respective platforms of the parties 
which divide the country. I cannot take this view of the presi- 
dential election. I believe, and the belief amounts to absolute 
conviction, that the election must be regarded as a triumph of 
principles cherished in the hearts of the peox)le of the free States. 



THE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. 251 

These principles, it is true, were originally asserted by a small 
party only. But after years of discussion they have, by their 
own value, their own intrinsic soundness, obtained the deliberate 
and unalterable sanction of the people's judgment. Chief among 
these principles is the restriction of slavery within State limits, 
not war upon slavery within those limits, but fixed opposition to 
its extension beyond them." '' Mr. Lincoln was the candidate 
of the people opposed to the extension of slavery. We have 
elected him. After many years of earnest advocacy and severe 
trial, we have achieved the triumph of that principle. By a fair 
and unquestionable majority we have obtained that triumph. 
Do you think we who represent this majority will throw it 
away ? Do you think the people would sustain us if we under- 
took to throw it away? I must speak to you plainly, gentlemen 
of the South. It is not in my heart to deceive you. I therefore 
tell you explicitly that if we of the North and West would con- 
sent to throw away all that has been gained in the recent tri- 
umph of our principles, the people would not sustain us, and so 
the consent would avail you nothing. And I must tell you fur- 
ther that under no circumstances will we consent to surrender 
a principle which wo believe to be sound and so important as 
that of restricting slavery within State limits." 

Here was a positive assertion that Lincoln and the party 
which had elected him would not respect the decision of the 
Supreme Court. Then if the Constitution as construed by that 
court, a tribunal constituted for the purpose, was to be so em- 
phatically disregarded and ignored, what remedy was left for the 
South? If that organic law by the terms and assurances of 
which the States became parts of the Union is repudiated, was 
the South required in morals or good faith to fold its arms and 
quietly submit ? I answer : No. Mr. Chase proceeds : "Aside from 
the territorial question, the question of slavery outside of the 



252 APPENDIX. 

slave States, I know of but one serious difficulty. I refer to the 
question concerning fugitives from service. The clause in the 
Constitution concerning this class of persons is regarded by al- 
most all men, North and South, as a stipulation for the surren- 
der to their masters of slaves escaping into free States. The peo- 
ple of the free States, however, who believe that slave-holding is 
wrong, cannot and will not aid in the reclamation, and the stip- 
ulation therefore becomes a dead letter. . . . You, thinking 
slavery right, claim the fulfillment of the stipulation ; we, think- 
ing slavery wrong, cannot fulfill the stipulation without con- 
sciousness of participating in wrong." 

This leaves no room to question the policy marked out by 
Mr, Lincoln. The sjleech of Mr. Chase, his chief adviser, dis- 
tinctly announced that in two essentials the Constitution t^hould 
not be observed and executed. He avows that the Con^-titution 
shall not be the law of the land, but that the will of the party 
coming into power shall be that law, a declaration in words that 
the Constitution is a dead letter. The course to be pursued was 
the usurpation of the powers and their absorption in centraliza- 
tion of government. It is admitted that that party understood 
the Constitution as we did, but that for years it had been its set- 
tled and fixed determination not to execute it ; tliat while it 
would solemnly swear to execute it, it would not do so ; that it 
had triumphed in its purpose and principle of disobedience, and 
it would avail itself of that triumph, and subvert and overthrow 
the principles of the Government and obliterate the Constitution 
it must swear to maintain, and by virtue of which only it could 
take control and management. 

Try the questions by the rules laid down by Mr. Chase for his 
party, and who are the rebels, the traitors, the conspirators 
ngainst the Government? The assertion that the South(M-n 
States are is the cap, the climax of deliberate and criminal impu- 



THE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. 253 

dence or inexcusable ignorance. The entire speech of Mr. Chase 
is interesting as part of tlie history of its time and the spirit of 
the party about to take control of the Government. All South- 
erners, especially those of Confederate blood and extraction, 
should read it. They will find in it much to defend us against 
the charges of treason, conspiracy, and rebellion, and much to 
shift these charges to the shoulders of others. It proves, as was 
said by Hon. C. J. Ingersoll, of Pennsylvania, in the House of 
Representatives, on June 9, 1841, that "the abolition agitation is 
[was] a conspiracy in the true definition of that offense. It is 
the combination of many to break law, which is the definition 
of conspiracy ; none the better that the conspirators are, many 
of them, persons of fair character and perhaps pious designs^ 

The South was left without protection of constitutional guar- 
anties and without hope in the decisions of the court of last re- 
sort ; it must therefore resort to its only remedy, secession. It 
was outlawed, the Constitution denounced as "a dead letter." 
The evils likely and almost certain to flow from the teachings of 
Judge Chase's " originally small party " were seen and dreaded 
l)y the best and most patriotic minds of the North. Daniel 
Webster, who had no superior as a statesman, who was regarded 
the best constitutional lawyer in the land, and whose patriotism 
embraced the whole country, was alarmed, and gave the best 
eff'orts of his to check and paralyze the lawlessness of the "orig- 
inally small party." In a reception speech made in New York 
on the 15th of March, 1837, he said : " We have slavery already 
amongst us. The Constitution found it in the Union, recognized 
it, and gave it solemn guaranties. To the full extent of these 
guaranties are we bound in honor, injustice, and by the Constitu- 
tion. All the stipulations contained in the Constitution in favor 
of the slave-holding States which are already in the Union ought 
to be fulfilled, and, so far as depends on me, shall be fulfilled in 



254 ArPENDix. 

the fullness of their spirit and to the exactness of their letter. 
Slavery, as it exists in the States, is beyond the reach of Con- 
gress. It is a concern of the States themselves ; they have never 
submitted it to Congress, and Congress has no rightful power 
over it." I shall concur, therefore, in no act, no measure, no men- 
ace, no indication of purpose which shall interfere or threaten to 
interfere with the exclusive authority of the States over the sub- 
ject of slavery as it exists within their respective limits. All 
this appears to me to be a matter of plain and imperative duty." 
At Buffalo, on the 22d of May, 1851, he said : " There is but one 
question in this country now, or if there be others they are but 
secondary or so subordinate that they are all absorbed in that 
great and leading question, and that is nothing more nor less 
than this : Can we preserve the Union of States, not by coercion, 
not by military power, not by angry controversies, but can we 
of this generation, you and I, your friends and my friends, can 
w^e so preserve the Union of these States by such admission of 
the powers of the Constitution as shall give content and sat- 
isfaction to all who live under it, and draw us together, not by 
military i)0wer, but by the silken cords of mutual, fraternal, pa- 
triotic affection? That is the question, and no other. Gentle- 
men, I believe in party distinctions; I am a party man. There 
are questions belonging to party in which I take an interest, 
and there are opinions entertained by others which I repudiate, 
but what of all that ? If a house be divided against itself, it will 
fall and crush everybody in it. "We must see that we maintain 
the government which is over us ; we must see that we uphold 
the Constitution, and we must do so without regard to party. 
The (juestion, fellow-citizens (and I put it to you now as the real 
question), the question is whether you and the rest of the people 
of the great State of New York, and of all the States, will so ad- 
here to the Constitution, will so enact and maintain laws to pre- 



THE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. 255 

serve that instrument, that you will not only remain in the Union 
yourselves, but permit your brethren to remain in it? That is 
the question. Will you concur in measures necessary to main- 
tain the Union, or will you opjDose such measures? That is the 
whole i^oint of the case." After giving a history of the forma- 
tion of the Union, INIr. Webster proceeds : " Now I am aware that 
all these things are well known, that they have been stated a 
thousand times, but in these days of j)erpetual discontent and 
misrepresentation to state things a thousand times is not enough, 
for there are persons whose consciences, it would seem, lead them 
to consider it their duty to deny, misrepresent, and cover up 
truths. Now these are the words of the Constitution, fellow- 
citizens, which I have taken the pains to transcribe therefrom, 
so that he who runs may read : * No person held to service or la- 
bor in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, 
shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be dis- 
charged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on 
claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due.' 
Is there any mistake about that? Is there any forty shilling 
attorney here to make a question of it ? No, I will not disgrace 
my profession by supposing such a thing. There is not, in or out 
of an attorney's office, in the country of Erie or elsewhere, one 
who could raise a doubt, or a particle of doubt, about the mean- 
ing of this provision of the Constitution. He may act as wit- 
nesses do sometimes on the stand. He may wriggle and twist, 
and say he cannot tell or he cannot remember. I have seen many 
such efforts in my time on the part of witnesses to falsify and 
deny the truth. But there is no man who can read these words 
of the Constitution of the United States and say they are not 
clear and imperative. ' No person,' the Constitution says, * held 
to labor or service in one State under the laws thereof, escaping 
into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation 



256 APPENDIX. 

therein, be discharged from such service or labor, l^ut shall be 
delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor 
may be due.' Why, you may be told by forty conventions in 
Massachusetts, in Ohio, in New York, or elsewhere, that if a col- 
ored man comes here he comes as a freeman. That is non sequitur. 
It is not so. If he comes as a fugitive from labor, the Constitu- 
tion says he is not a freeman, and that he shall be delivered up 
to those who are entitled to his service. Gentlemen, that is the 
Constitution. Do we or do w^e not mean to conform to it, and to 
execute that part of the Constitution as well as the rest of it? 
I believe there are before me here members of Congress. I sup- 
pose there may be here members of the State Legislature or ex- 
ecutive officers under the State government. I sui)pose there 
may be judicial magistrates of New York, executive officers, as- 
sessors, supervisors, justices of the peace, and constables before 
me. Allow me to say, gentlemen, that there is not, there cannot 
be, any one of these officers in this assemblage, or elsewdiere, who 
has not, according to the form of the usual obligation, bound 
himself by solemn oath to support the Constitution. They have 
taken their oaths on the holy evangelists of Almighty God, or by 
uplifted hands, as the case may be, or by solemn affirmation, as 
is the practice in some cases ; but among all of them there is not 
a man who holds, nor is there any man who can hold, any office 
in the gift of the United States, or of this State, or of any other 
State, w^ho does not bind himself by the solemn obligation of an 
oath to support the Constitution of the United States. Well, is 
he to tamper with that? Is he to palter? Gentlemen, our po- 
litical duties are as much matters of conscience as any other 
duties. Our sacred domestic duties, our most endearing social 
relations are not more the subjects for conscientious consideration 
and conscientious discharge than the duties we enter upon under 
the Constitution of the United States. The bonds of political 



THE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. 257 

brotherhood, which hold us together from Maine to Georgia, 
rest upon tlie same principles of ohligation as those of social and 
domestic life." At Capon Springs, in Virginia, June 28, 1851, 
Mr. Webster said : " The leading sentiment in the toast from the 
Chair is the Union of the States. The Union of the States! 
What mind can comprehend the consequences of that Union, 
past, present, and to come ? The Union of these States is tlie all- 
absorbing topic of the day. On it all men speak, write, think, 
and dilate from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof. 
And yet, gentlemen, I fear its importance has been but insulfi- 
ciently appreciated." " How absurd it is to suppose that when 
different parties enter into a compact for certain purposes, either 
can disregard any one provision and expect, nevertheless, the 
other to observe the rest ! I intend, for one, to regard and main- 
tain and carry out to the fullest extent the Constitution of the 
United States which I have sworn to support in all its parts and 
provisions. It is written in^the Constitution : ' No person held 
to service or labor in one State under the laws thereof, escaping 
into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation 
therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be 
delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor 
may be due.' That is as much a part of the Constitution as any 
other, and equally binding and obligatory as any other on all 
men, public or private. And who denies this ? None but the 
abolitionists of the North. And pray, what is it they will not 
deny ? They have but the one idea, and it would seem that these 
fanatics at the North and the secessionists at the South are put- 
ting their heads together to defeat the good designs of honest and 
patriotic men. They act to the same end and the same object, 
and the Constitution has to take the fire from both sides. I have 
not hesitated to say, and I repeat, that if the Northern States 
refuse willfully and deliberately to carry into effect that part of 
17 



258 APPENDIX. 

the Constitution which respects the restoration of fugitive slaves, 
and Congress provides no remedy, the South would no longer 
be bound to observe the compact. A bargain cannot be broken 
on one side, and still bind the other side. I say to you, gentle- 
men, as I said on the shores of Lake Erie and in the city of Bos- 
ton, and as I may say again in that city or elsewhere in the 
North, that you of the South have as much right to receive 
your fugitive slaves as the North has to any of its rights and 
privileges of navigation and commerce. I am as ready to fight 
and to fall for the constitutional rights of Virginia as I am for 
those of Massachusetts." 

Now, if Daniel Webster, whose greatness of mind and nobility 
of soul are better and more impressively and significantly ex- 
pressed by the isolated name, *' Daniel Webster," than they would 
be by the use of any or all the adjectives of our language defin- 
ing those virtues, and whose patriotism was as broad as the land, 
who loved the Union for its constitutional ties and guaranties, 
and who hated slavery in every form, and was willing to use all 
lawful means for its abolition — if he, with his universally known 
character and convictions, was ready to fight and to fall for the 
constitutional rights of the South, where was the wrong, or even 
the slightest mistake on the part of the Southern man who had 
been reared in the education that the institutions of the South 
were sound in law and in morals? 

He told us we had the constitutional right to the property ; 
that if the North disregarded the compact in any one particular, 
we were released from all obligations to observe the rest. 

Trying the principles of the " originally small party " of Mr. 
Chase, Mr. Lincoln, and Mr. Seward by tlie plain and incontro- 
vertible rules of constitutional law as laid down by Daniel Web- 
ster, we find they cnn only exir^t in the palpable and gross viola- 
tion of the Constitution as it then was. 



THE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. 259 

Mr. Webster's argument is so full, clear, and exhaustive that 
I will not be guilt}^ of the folly of attempting to add to or eluci- 
date it. I commend it to the attention and perusal of all South- 
ern men and women. Its teachings should be transferred to our 
school-books to supersede and paralyze the false and poisonous 
manufacture of history that has found its way into so many of 
the books that have been introduced into the schools of the South, 
with the purpose to mislead and disease the minds of our chil- 
dren as to the purpose, policy, and good faith of our separation 
from the government of that " originally small party " so much 
condemned, if not despised, by Mr. Webster, and to which he ad- 
ministered such rebukes as to induce us to believe he could and 
would keep it in check and perhaps obliterate it. 

If Daniel Webster could have been spared to the Union, there 
would not, in my opinion, have arisen cause for separation. His 
death, in October, 1852, unbridled the fanaticism of that " origi- 
nally small party," and brought it into power eight years later, 
when it proposed to conduct the government on its peculiar sen- 
timents of morality, regardless of the constitutional limitations 
and restrictions which had been upheld and enforced by the 
Supreme Court for more than seventy -five years. 

It was " the higher law party " acting without warrant of au- 
thority and in violation of that compact of which Mr. Webster 
said one party could not disregard any one provision and expect 
the other to observe the rest. That great man loved law, system, 
order ; had great respect for the ability, patriotism, and integrity 
of the Supreme Court of the United States, and would certainly, 
I think, have acquiesced in its decision made at the Decem- 
ber term, 1856, that Congress had no power to exclude slavery 
from the Territories. His.course through life warrants the con- 
clusion that he would have urged it as a settlement of that agi- 
tation. 



260 APPENDIX. 

Our affairs having reached the crisis indicated, the work of se- 
cession began. The question is : Did we ha-ve that right which 
we exercised in tlie hope that war would not follow ? We pro- 
posed to quit in peace. 

The first authority I rely on in support of the right is a speech 
of Mr. Lincoln (the head and leader of coercion), made in the 
House of Eepresentatives on January 12, 1848. He said : "Any 
people, anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have 
the right to rise up and shake off the existing government and 
form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable, 
a sacred right, a right which we hope and believe is to liberate 
the world. Nor is it confined to cases in which the whole peo- 
jDle of an existing government may choose to exercise it. Any 
portion of such peoi^le that can, may revolutionize and make 
their own so much of the territory as they inhabit. More than 
this, a majority of any portion of such people may revolutionize 
letting down a minority, intermingled with or near them, who 
may oppose their movements. Such minority was precisely the 
case of the tories of our own Revolution. It is a quality of rev- 
olutions not to go by old lines or old laws, but to break up both 
and make new ones," There is no room for enlargement, expan- 
sion, or extension of this view of Mr. Lincoln on the right of rev- 
olution in any form it may take. 

Mr. Rawls, of Pennsylvania, an eminent jurist, who had been 
United States District Attorney under President Washington, 
and had been offered by him the attorney-generalship of the 
United States, and who was a firm supporter of the administra- 
tion of the elder Adams, wrote in 1825 : " Having thus endeav- 
ored to delineate the general features of this peculiar and inval- 
uable form of government, we shall conclude by adverting to the 
principles of its cohesion, and to the provisions it contains for its 
own duration and extension. The subject cannot, perhaps, be 



i 



THE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. 261 

better introduced than by presenting in its own words an em- 
phatical clause in the Constitution : * The United States shall 
guaranty to every State in the Union a republican form of gov- 
ernment, shall protect each of them against invasion, and on ap- 
plication of the Legislature, or the executive when the Legislature 
cannot be convened, against domestic violence.' The Union is 
an association of the people of republics ; its preservation is cal- 
culated to depend on the preservation of these republics. The 
princij^le of representation, although certainly the wisest and 
best, is not essential to the being of a republic, but to continue a 
member of the Union it must be presumed, and therefore the 
guaranty must be so construed. It depends on the State itself to 
retain or abolish the principle of representation, because it de- 
pends on itself whether it will continue a member of the Union. 
To deny this right would be inconsistent with the principles on 
which our public systems are founded, which is that the people 
have in all cases to determine how they will be governed. This 
right must be considered as an ingredient in the original compo- 
sition of the general Government which, though not expressed, 
was understood, and the doctrine heretofore presented to the 
reader in regard to the indefeasible nature of personal allegiance 
ii so far qualified in respect to allegiance to the United States. 
It was observed that it was competent for a State to make a 
compact with its citizens; that the reciprocal obligations of pro- 
tection and allegiance might cease on certain events ; and it was 
further observed that allegiance would necessarily cease on the 
dissolution of the society to which it M'as due." " The secession 
of a State from the Union depends on the will of the people of 
such State. The people alone, as we have seen, hold the power 
to alter their Constitution. The Constitution of the United 
States is, to a certain extent, incorporated into the Constitutions 
of the several States hy the act of the pcoj^le. The State Legisla- 



262 APPENDIX. 

tures have only to perform certain organical operations in respect 
to it. To withdraw from the Union comes not within the gen- 
eral scope of their delegated authority. There must be an ex- 
pressed provision to that effect inserted in the State Constitutions. 
This is not at present the case with any of them, and it would, per- 
haps, be impolitic to confide it to them. A matter so moment- 
ous ought not to be intrusted to those who would have it in their 
power to exercise it lightly and precipitately, upon sudden dis- 
satisfaction or causeless jealousy, perhaps against the interests 
and wishes of a majority of their constituents. In the present 
Constitution there is no specification of number after the first 
formation. It was foreseen that there would be a natural tend- 
ency to increase the number of States with the increase of popu- 
lation then anticipated and now so fully verified. It was also 
knoivn, though it was not avowed, that a State might withdraw itself J^ 
This comes from one who was an officer under the first admin- 
istration and familiar with the interpretation of the Constitution 
by its framers. 

Senator "Wade, of Ohio (afterward Vice-president of the United 
States), in the United States Senate, on February 23, 1855, said: 
" Who is to be judge, in the last resort, of the violation of the 
Constitution of the United States by the enactment of a law ? 
AVho is the final arbiter, the general Government, or the States 
in their sovereignty ? Why, sir, to yield that point is to yield up 
all the rights of the States to protect their own citizens and to 
consolidate this Government into amiserable despotism ! What- 
ever you may think of it, I tell you, sir, that, if this bill pass, col- 
lision will arise between the State and Federal jurisdictions — 
conflicts more dangerous than all the wordy wars which are got 
up in Congress, conflicts in which the States Avill never yield ; for 
the more you undertake to load them with acts like this the 
greater will be their resistance." " I said there were States in 



THE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. 263 

this Union whose higliest tribunals had adjudged that bill to be 
unconstitutional, and I was one of those who believed it uncon- 
stitutional, and that, under the old resolutions of 1798 and 1799, a 
State must not only be the judge of that, but of the remedy in 
such case." There was no mincing there, no stringing together 
of words for sound's sake; but a solid shot, straight to the mark, 
from antislavery quarters. 

In his address in 1839, before the Historical Society of New 
York, Mr. John Quincy Adams said : " With these qualifications 
we may admit the same right as vested in the people of every 
State in the Union, with reference to the general Government, 
•which was exercised by the people of the united colonies with 
reference to the supreme head of the British Empire, of which 
they formed a part, and under these limitations have the people 
of each State in the Union a right to secede from the Confederate 
Union itself. But the indissoluble Union between the several 
States of this Confederate nation is, after all, not in the right, but 
in the heart. If the day should ever come (may heaven avert it !) 
when the affections of the people of these States shall be alien- 
ated from each other ; when the paternal spirit shall give way 
to cold indifference, or collision of interest shall fester into 
hatred, the bonds of political asseveration will not long hold to 
other parties no longer attached by the magnetism of conciliated 
interest and kindly sympathies, and far better will it be for the 
people of these disunited States to part in friendship than to be 
held together by constraint; then will be time for reverting to 
the precedents which occurred at the formation and adoption of 
the Constitution, to form a more perfect Union by dissolving that 
which could no longer bind, and to leave the separated parties 
to be reunited by the law of political gravitation to the center." 

Acting upon this principle, the Legislature of Massachusetts, 
the home of Mr. Adams, in 1844, resolved " that the project of 



264 APPENDIX. 

the annexation of Texas, unless arrested on the threshold, may- 
drive these States into a dissolution of the Union." On the same 
subject, on February 22, 1845, it resolved, "... and as the 
powers of legislation granted in the Constitution of the United 
States to Congress do not embrace the case of the admission of 
a foreign State or foreign Territory by legislation into the Union, 
such act of admission would have no binding force whatever on 
the people of Massachusetts." 

Here we have the unequivocal assertion of the right to secede. 
In 1814, on the call of Massachusetts, several of the New En- 
gland States met in convention in Hartford, and promulgated the 
following : " It is as much the duty of State authorities to watch 
over the rights reserved as of the United States to exercise the 
powers which are delegated." " In cases of deliberate, danger- 
ous, and palpable infractions of the Constitution affecting the 
sovereignty of a State, and liberties of the people, it is not only 
the right, but the duty of such State to interpose its authority for 
their protection in the manner best calculated to secure that end. 
When emergencies occur, which are either beyond the reach of 
the judicial tribunals, or too pressing to admit of the delay inci- 
dent to their forms, States which have no common umpire must 
be their ov/n judges and execute their own decisions." 

AVe of the South were watching over not only our reserved 
rights, but also those guaranteed to us as well. We had the de- 
liberate, dangerous, and palpable infraction of the Constitution. 
Emergencies had reached beyond the cure of judicial tribunals, 
for the " originally small party " po-^itively refused to recognize 
and obey the courts, and the time had come when we might, as 
the Hartford convention said we had the right to do, become 
our own judges and execute our own decisions. The principles 
set forth by that convention were signed hy a number of the 
leading men of that day, among them Nathan Dane, founder 



THE aOUTH JUSTIFIED. 265 

of the i^rofessorship of law in the Cambridge University, and who 
was author of the ordinance for the government of the North- 
western territory in 1787. He, like Eawle, understood what was 
meant by the framers of the Constitution. He lived in their 
day and with them, and we may regard his utterances as an au- 
thoritative construction of the instrument. 

On November 9, 1860, Horace Greeley wrote : " The telegraph 
informs us that most of the cotton States are meditating a with- 
drawal from the Union because of Lincoln's election. Very 
well. They have a right to meditate, and meditation is a profita- 
ble employment of leisure. "VVe have a chronic, invincible die- 
belief in disunion as a remedy for either Northern or Southern 
grievances. AVe cannot see any necessary connection between 
the alleged disease and this ultra heroic remedy. Still we say 
if any one meditates disunion, let him do so unmolested. That 
was a base and hypocritical row that was raised at Southern dic- 
tation about the ears of John Quincy Adams because he present- 
ed a petition for the dissolution of the Union. The petitioner 
had a right to make the request ; it was the member's duty to 
present it. And now, if the cotton States consider the value of 
the Union debatable, we maintain their perfect right to discuss 
it. Nay, we hold with Jefferson to the inalienable right of com- 
munities to alter or abolish forms of government that have be- 
come oppressive or injurious ; and if the cotton States decide that 
they can do better out of the Union than in it, we insist on let- 
ting them go in peace. The right to secede may be a revolution- 
ary one; but it exists, nevertheless, and we do not see how one 
party has a right to do what anothcrparty has a right to prevent. 
We must ever resist the asserted right of any State to remain in 
the Union and nullify or defy the laws thereof. To withdraw 
from the Union is quite another matter; and whenever a con- 
siderable section of our Union shall deliberately resolve to go out 



266 APPENDIX. 

we shall resist all coercive measures designed to keep it in. We 
hope never to live in a Republic whereof once section is pinned 
to the residue by bayonets, . . . Let the people reflect, de- 
liberate, then vote, and let the act of secession be the echo of an 
unmistakable popular fiat. A judgment thus rendered, a de- 
mand for separation so backed, would either be acquiesced in 
without the effusion of blood, or those who rushed upon the 
carnage to defy and defeat it would place themselves clearly in 
the wrong." 

Judge Story, in his " Commentaries on the Constitution," says: 
"Though obvious deductions which may be and, indeed, have 
been drawn from considering the Constitution as a.compact be- 
tween the States are that it operates as a mere treaty or con- 
vention between them, and has an obligatory force upon each 
State no longer than it suits its pleasure or its consent continues; 
that each State has a right to judge for itself in relation to the 
nature, extent, and obligations of the instrument, without being 
at all Ijound by the interpretation of the Federal Government, 
or by that of any other State, and that each retains the power to 
withdraw from the confederacy and dissolve the connection, 
when such shall be its choice, and may suspend the operations 
of the Federal Government, and nullify its acts within its own 
territorial limits, whenever in its own opinion the exigency of 
the case may require — these conclusions may not always be 
avowed, but they flow naturally from the doctrine which we 
have under consideration," 

Judge Tucker, professor of law in the University of William 
and Mary, in Virginia, and one of the earliest commentators on 
the Constitution, in 1803 wrote : " The Constitution of the United 
States then being that instrument by which the Federal Govern- 
ment had been created, its powers defined and limited, and the 
duties and functions of its several departments prescribed, the 



THE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. 267 

government thus established may be pronounced to be a confed- 
erate republic, composed of several independent and sovereign 
democratic States united for their common defense and security 
against foreign nations and for the purpose of harmony and mu- 
tual fntercourse between each other, each State retaining an 
entire liberty of exercising as it thinks proper of those parts 
of its sovereignty which are not mentioned in the Constitution 
or act of union as parts that ought to be exercised in common."' 
" In becoming a member of the federal alliance, established be- 
tween the American States by the Articles of Confederation, she 
expressly retained her sovereignty and independence. The con- 
straints put upon the exercise of that sovereignty by those Ar- 
ticles did not destroy its existence." " The Federal Government 
then appears to be the organ through which the united repub- 
lics communicate with foreign nations and with each other. 
Their submission to its operation is voluntary. Its councils, its 
engagements, its authority are theirs, modified and united. Its 
authority is an emanation from theirs, not a flame in which they 
have been consumed, nor a vortex in which they are swallowed 
up. Each is still a perfect State, still sovereign, still independ- 
ent, and still capable, should occasion require, to resume the 
exercise of its functions as such in the most unlimited extent," 

In speaking of our separation from Great Britain, Chancellor 
Kent says: "The principle of self-preservation and the right of 
every community to freedom and happiness gave sanction to 
this separation. When the government established over any 
people becomes incompetent to fulfill its purposes or destructive 
to the essential ends for which it was instituted, it is the right 
of the people, founded on the law of nature and the reason of 
mankind and supported by the soundest authority and some 
illustrious precedents, to throw off" such government and provide 
new guards for their future safety." 



268 APPENDIX. 

With a single exception, I have confined my citations of au- 
thority to tlie Northern antislavery States, the home of the 
"originally small party." No Southern man, no slave-holder 
ever more clearly announced and advocated the sovereignty of 
the States, or that the Constitution was a compact between the 
States, or that one x^arty could not violate it in one or more 
particulars and require or expect the other to observe the resi- 
due. No stronger argument can be made that the Constitution 
is a whole, and to be binding on one side must be obeyed as a 
whole by the other. The Constitution was the chain that linked 
the States in union. Tlie breaking of one link dissolved the tie. 

The authorities all tend to the one inevitable conclusion that 
the Union exists alone by the Constitution and its observance in 
every particular. Being the terms of union, one partj^ niay not 
])e })ermitted to violate it in any particular and insist on its ob- 
servance by the other as to any of its terms, whatever they may 
be. The right to its enforcement as a whole, or its rejection as 
such, is inalienable and indestructible. 

In the investigation of the question my trouble has not been 
in finding authority of the highest and clearest and most con- 
vincing character. It has been in avoiding its multiplicity. I 
have relied on the testimony of those not at all in sympathy 
with the institution of slavery, passing by the opinions and ut- 
terances of Southern statesmen and jurists. 

Under the condition of things as slightly, and but slightly, 
portrayed in this address, the Southern States began the work of 
secession and organizing a new Government. They hoped, as 
they rightly might, that they would not be interfered with ; that 
there would be no war. In this they were niistaken. The " orig- 
inally small party," which had then come into power, ordered 
the relief squadron with eleven ships, carrying two hundred and 
eighty-five guns and twenty-four hundred men, from New York 



THE SOUTH JUSTIFIED. 269 

and Norfolk to re-enforce Fort Sumter — peacably if permitted, 
forcibly if they must. This was of itself an act of war. After 
several attempts and failures on the part of General Beauregard 
to have some understanding with Major Anderson, and seeing 
that unless he took action his forces would be exposed in front 
and rear, and perhaps destroyed for usefulness, he fired the first 
gun of the war. This he did in self-defense. He was in com- 
mand of the forces of a Government foreign to that of the United 
States, The harbor of Charleston belonged to the Confederate 
States, or rather to the independent Government of South Car- 
olina. Being then the property of another Government, there 
was no authority resting with or in the Government at "Wash- 
ington to interfere with it. It was that Government's duty to 
withdraw its troops, at least when demand was made by General 
Beauregard. Failing to do so, it became his imperative duty to 
take the necessary steps to remove them, and to resort to such 
force, mild or violent, as would bring about that removal. It 
became necessary to strike the first blow. That blow Vv'as in 
self-defense. The overt act on the part of the United States jus- 
tified it. Neither nation nor individual is required to wait until 
stricken after the assailant has assumed the attitude of oflense 
with the present ability to strike. 

The squadron was ordered to Fort Sumter to attack. The 
order will bear no other interpretation. There can be no author- 
ity to order the re-enforcement of a foreign port in times of peace 
and with hostile demonstrations. That was an act of war, was 
the first assault, the inauguration of the war by the United States. 
If ever there was a case of pure, unmitigated, unmixed, and pos- 
itive justification and self-defense, the law and the testimony 
makes that case for the Confederate Government and the Con- 
federate soldier. 

We yielded to tlie logic of force. The right still lives. A new 



270 APPENDIX. 

Government has been built upon the downfall of the old ones. 
We have promised our allegiance to it. We will keep the faith 
plighted at all hazards and to the last extremity, so long as the 
Constitution is respected. The element of evils and discord has 
been removed. Old things have passed away, and there will be, 
we venture to hope, no other sectional jealousy. Our devotion 
to the Constitution at all times ; our conduct as soldiers for four 
years, battling from field to field, from time to time, holding in 
check one million five hundred thousand soldiers with six hun- 
dred thousand, gives assurance that we will always be worthy 
citizens of a constitutional Union, and may be confidently relied 
on in times of need. 

I know that in many things I have repeated an often told 
story; but, in the languages of Mr. Webster, "to state things a 
thousand times is not enough in these days of misrepresenta- 
tion, for there are persons whose consciences it would seem lead 
them to consider it their duty to deny, misrepresent, and cover 
up truths." 

In this effort my purpose and desire have been to awake the 
Southern man and woman to the importance of having their 
children study our lost cause from constitutional, legal, and his- 
torical stand-points, that they be not misled. It is time we were 
seeking after their school-books ourselves, and not trusting too 
much to others. 

Our cause was worth all we sacrificed to it. Though lost, it 
deserves vindication. Its defense by our arms at least checked 
centralization. Understanding the principles of self-government, 
for which our comrades battled and died, our children will stand 
at their graves with love, admiration, and approval of their course, 
and offer up the prayer: "God bless and perpetuate their mem- 
ories ! " Hon. Peter Turney, 

Chief -justice of the State of Tennessee. 



- H, 

RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. - V^m^o^ 



"-^ 



The army is generally regarded as a great " school of vice." 
As a theory I have nothing to write anent it. I only state facts 
as I glean them from history and experience. I left my charge, 
Winchester, Tenn., July 9, 1861, and went directly to " Camp 
Sneed," Knoxville, East Tennessee, and continued in the South- 
ern army until the surrender, and was paroled in Macon, Ga., 
in May, 1865, and reached my home July 13, 1865. 

The centurions of whom we read in the Bible have much said 
to their credit, nothing in censure. The first of whom we read 
was noted for his great faith, humility, and charity. The next 
" glorified God " at the cross, and testified : " Truly this was the 
Son of God." Cornelius was "a devout man " who " feared God 
with all his house," " gave much alms," " and prayed to God al- 
ways." Julius was kind and courteous in all his treatment to- 
ward Paul during the months that he was in the custody of the 
centurion. 

" Tapsters and town people " Oliver Cromwell found would 
not defeat the Royalists, but when he rallied " men of religion " 
and went singing or shouting into the conflict, the " Lord of 
hosts" he thought gave them the victory, and he recognized 
God's hand in all results. 

" Godly soldiers bore a conspicuous part " in the great work of 
the Wesleys ; and Captain Thomas Webb, of the British army, a 
lay preacher, was converted under the preaching of John Wes- 
ley in Bristol, England, and there testified to others of God's sav- 
ing power ; and in America he was eminently useful, preaching 

(271) 



272 ' APPENDIX. 

in his military dress, and was a pioneer in planting Methodism 
on this continent. 

" Colonel Gardiner found the army an inviting field for Chris- 
tian work," and he was remarkably successful in winning offi- 
cers and soldiers from the vices of camp life. His life was great 
in deeds of piety, his death was grand and triumphant. 

Headley Vicars was eminent as a soldier of the cross. 

General Joseph Warren, who fell at Bunker Hill, spent two 
hours in prayer the night before his gallant death. 

General Andrew Jackson, when told by an officer that the ar- 
ticles of war forbid " an unusual noise in camp," and that some 
of the soldiers had been singing and praying in their quarters, 
replied : " God forbid that prayer should be an unusual noise in 
my camp ! " 

We all know how fully and frequently Jefferson Davis, Robert 
E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson appealed to God for help, and to 
the people to look to him for aid during the time of the great 
conflict. 

Much more of vice than virtue was manifest in the army of 
Tennessee during the first and second years of the war. Not a 
a few^ chaplains were so much discouraged with the army as a 
field of acceptability and usefulness that they resigned their 
commissions and left the camp. I am indebted to Dr. W. W. 
Bennett's " Great Revival in the Southern Armies " for the fol- 
lowing extracts and much else that I furnish in this sketch : 

In the first months of the strife the call of the war-trninpet was heai-d 
above all other sounds. The young men rushed to tlie camps of instruc- 
tion, and, freed from the restraints of home and the influence of pious 
relatives, thousands of them gave way to the seductive influences of sin. 

Legions of devils infest a camp. Vice grows in it like plants in a hot- 
bed, and yields abundant and bitter fruits. " In the Old Testament it is 
said, ' One sinner destroyeth much good.' If so, what destruction of good 
must be effected by a large body of ungodly soldiers in close and constant 
contact, where one may, without c:£travagancc, consider them as inocu- 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 273 

laling each other daily with the new infection oi every debaucli through 
Avhich tliey pass I " 

Before the "■ soldiers of Christ " addressed themselves in earnest to the 
work, gambling, profanity, drunkenness, and other kindred vices pre- 
vaileil to an alarming extent. 

The temptation to recklessness is strong among all soldiers. Keligion 
is supposed to be well suited to the pursuits of peaceful life, but not to 
rough, uncertain army life. This reckless spirit, we must admit, greatly 
prevaileil, and was much encouraged by many who had been long in the 
military profession, and brought with tliem into our armies the vicious 
habits of many years of sin. Among the soldiers the great, overshadow- 
ing evils were lewdness, profanit}', and drunkenness; among the people 
at home, tlie *' greed of gain " was the " accursed thing." 

It was a melancholy fact that many men entered the army avowed ene- 
mies of all intoxicating drinks, who, alas! very soon fell victims to the 
demon of the bottle. With many there seemed to be a conviction that the 
fatigue and exposure of their new mode of life could not be endured with- 
out the artificial stimulant of ai'dent spirits. This was a great and fatal 
error. The soldier does not neefl, even in the worst climates, and in the 
hardest service, his rations of rum. 

The cause of Christ was hindered, and that of Satan promoted, in the 
Southern armies by the influence and example of wicked and licentious 
officers and men. 

One who had observed the course of intemperance in the army wrote: 
" The prevalence of vice— drunkenness and profanity— in our camps, is 
attributable to the officers themselves. By far the larger number of the of- 
ficers of our Southern army are both profane and hard drinkers, whei-e 
they are not drunkards." 

Another says: "There is an appalling amount of drunkenness in our 
army. More among the officers than the men. This evil is now on the 
increase." 

A surgeon, writing from the army, says: "I was greatly astonished to 
find soldiers in Virginia whom I had known in Georgia as somber, dis- 
creet citizens — members of the different Churches, some deacons and of- 
ficial members, even preachers— in the daily and constant habit of drink- 
ing whisky for their health." 

An officer who had visited many portions of the army gave it as his 
opinion that Avith the exception of the reverse at Fort Donelson, we were 
defeated not by the Federals, but by whisky. 

18 



274 APPENDIX. 

A distinguished general is said to have remarked that " if the South is 
overtluown, the epitaph sliouldbe: '■Died of Whisky.' " 

This was one ui' the giant evils. Hundreds all over the land, moved by 
an unholy ilesue for gain, engaged in tlie manufacture of ardent spirits. 
It was estimated that in one county in Virginia, and thiit not one of the 
largest, the ilistillers in one year consumed thirty -one thousand bushels 
of grain, enough to furnish six hundred families with food lor the same 
period. While the commissioners appointed by the court of that county 
to procure grain to feed tlie families of soldiers could not purchase enough 
for that purpose, the smoke of fifty distilleries darkened the air; mean- 
time, the cries of the poor mothers and helpless children went up m vain 
lor bread. 

Tlie same was the case in other States. In one district in South Caro- 
lina one hundred and fifty distilleries were in operation. A gentleman in 
North Carolina said he could count from one hill-top the smoke of four- 
teen distilleries. One of the Richmond papers declared that a single dis- 
tiller in that city made at one period of the war a profit of .$4,000 a ilay. 

In Augusta County, Va., it was estimated that fifty thousand bushels of 
grain were consumed monthly by the distilleries in operation there. 

A writer on this subject estimated that in the second year of the war 
sixteen hundred barrels, or sixty-four thousand gallons, of ardent spirits 
of the worst sort were daily manufactured in the Confederate States. 

The temptation to drink in the array was very strong: men were cast 
down in spirit, aw^ay from home, wife, children, mothers and sisters— all 
that makes life dear. Many that ventured to drink at all under such cir- 
cumstances found it hard to avoid excesses. 

But this evil was not confined to the soldiers. In the councils of the 
general Government and State Governments its baleful influence was 
felt. 

The best and ablest officers of the army sought by example and by pre- 
cept to suppress this vice, and the following noble language from Gener- 
al Bragg is a sample of the general orders issued from time to time against 
the evils which infested our armies: 

" Commanders of all grades are earnestly called upon to suppress drunk- 
enness by every means in their power. It is the cause of nearly every 
evil from which we sufl'er; the largest portion of our sickness and mor- 
tality results from it; our guard-houses are filled by it; officers are con- 
stantly called from their duties to form court-martials in consequence of 
it; inefficiency in our troops, and consequent danger to our cause, is the 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN AIIMY. 275 

incvitiible result. No one is beuelited but tl.o miserable wretcluwho is 
too cowardly to defeuil a country he is willing to sell by destroying tliose 
noble faculties he has never possessed. Uallaut soldiers should scorn to 
yield to such temi)tations, and intelligent and honorable ollicers should 
set them an example. They should be encouraged to send to their fami- 
lies at home the pay they receive for their services, instead of wasting it 
in their own destruction, and at the risk of the holy cause in which they 
are engaged. Small as the amuuut is, it will cause many a dear one to 
rise up and call them blessed. 

"'Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine to those 
that be of heavy hearts; ' but as for us, tliegloriouscause in which Aveare 
engaged should furnish all the excitement and enthusiasm necessary for 
our success." 

When ardent spirits weve oITei'cd to our great warrior Jackson, in 
his last illness»asa medicine, he exclaimed: "Give me pure Avater and 
milk." And among the soldiex's many followed the example of the great 
leailer. 

There \vas much of preaching and prayer-meeting in our army 
around Knoxvillo in the summer of 1861; less, of course, dur- 
ing tlio winter of 1861-2 at Cumberland Gap; but far more in the 
army about Tupelo, INIiss., and Bean's Station and Tazewell, East 
I'ennessee, in the spring and summer of 1862. Then, after our 
forced march across Eastern Kentucky to Richmond and Lexing- 
ton, Ky., in the early autumn, while resting and recruiting in the 
beautiful blue-grass country, wo had for some weeks our regular 
camp services in the midst of the handsome new tents capt- 
ured from the Federal troops. During all these fifteen months 
I had seen no signs of a revival in our army. 

Late in November and early in December, 1862, Chaplains 
AVexler, of the Twenty-ninth North Carolina; Allen Tribble, of 
the Fourth Tennessee ; J. G. Bolton, of the Eleventh Tennessee ; 
Rev. Captain Brady, of the Thirty-ninth Georgia; and myself, 
conducted a protracted meeting beginning at Normandy and 
ending at Manchester, Tcnn. There were some happy public 



276 APPENDIX. 

professions of faith and a number of penitents, tlie first I had 
witnessed during tlie war among the soldiers. 

After the battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone's River, our army 
remained in camj) for five months near Shelbyville, Tenn. Dis- 
tinguished ministers of diff'erent Churches came to the help of 
the chaplains. Among those I remember were Dr. Teasdale, 
Missionary Baptist; Dr. Pease, Episcopal; and Dr. J. B. McFerrin, 
Methodist. Dr. Bunting, Presbyterian chaplain of Terry's Texas 
Rangers, was also with us. Chaplain Crouch, of Armstrong's 
Brigade, was killed in a skirmish at Thompson's Station, Tenn., 
March 5 or 6. 

The Chaplains' Association was organized at the Presbyterian 
Church in Shelbyville February 18, 1862— Rev. Dr. Bryson, 
Chairman, and Rev. Mr. Bowde, Secretary. There were ten 
chaplains present. The destitution of regiments of cha})lains, 
the word of God, tracts, etc., was discussed. Dr. (now Bishop) 
Quintard was recommended as agent for Polk's Corps to look after 
more preachers and religious reading for the soldiers. Chaplain 
Bennett and I were appointed on the 24th of March to wait upon 
Lieutenant-general Polk and request that the inspection of arms 
should be dispensed with on Sunday. Our bishop-general re- 
ceived us with marked courtesy, and assured us that there should 
be no interference with our hours for religious service. 

On May 7 Dr. McFerrin preached the funeral of the Rev. S. S. 
Moody, and a revival was reported at the chaplains' meeting in 
Ector's Texas Brigade — seventeen conversions to date. Chap- 
lains Morris and Finney organized a Soldiers' Christian Asso- 
ciation of forty or fifty members in that brigade. April 5 I found 
Colonel Camp, of the Fourteenth Texas, reading his Bible. The 
flag of his regiment bore the inscription : " In God We Trust." 

On May 10 we organized a Soldiers' Christian Association 
of ninety-nine members for the Thirty-seventh Georgia Regi- 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 277 

ment, and began a protracted meeting for the brigade. Captains 
Wilson and Carter, and Rev. S. S. Taylor, a worthy minister of 
the Primitive Baptist Church, and a true private soldier, ren- 
dered me valuable assistance during the three weeks the meet- 
ing continued. 

At our chaplains' meeting on May 12 Chaplains C. S. Hearn, 
of the Fifth Tennessee, and W. T.. Bennett, of the Twelfth Ten- 
nessee, reported eighty -five conversions in Vaughn's and forty- 
five in Strahl's Brigade. Rev. H. D. Hogan, a private soldier, 
held a fine revival in his regiment, the Twenty-fourth Tennes- 
see. Since the war he has been a presiding elder in Kansas for 
several years. 

At Shelby ville, on May 24, John P. McFerrin, son of the Rev. 
A. P. McFerrin, was recommended for license to preach. He 
gave us good help at Tyner's Station three months later, was ter- 
ribly wounded at Chickamauga in September, and assisted us in 
another meeting near Augusta, Ga., in March, 1865. He is now 
pastor of the First Methodist Church in Chattanooga. Rev. Dr. 
J. B. McFerrin gave us invaluable help in Middle and East Ten- 
nessee in 1863, in Georgia in 1864, and was Avith us till the day 
of the surrender at Greensboro, N. C, and preached to the army 
that day. He did much for the spiritual welfare of our soldiers 
during the two active, efficient years of his army life. 

At Fairfield, on June 2, a chaplains' meeting was organized — 
S. M. Cherry, Chairman ; Dr. F. S. Petway, Secretary. Present: 
Chaplains Rush, of the Third Georgia ; H. B. Moore, of the Sev- 
enteenth Tennessee ; John A. Ellis, of the Twentieth Tennessee ; 

McMurray, of the Forty-fifth Tennessee; and Rev. S. S. 

Taylor, of the Thirty-seventh Georgia. A good revival was con- 
ducted in Brown's Brigade near Fairfield and Beech Grove by 
Chaplains T. H. Davenport, of the Third Tennessee; Chap- 
man, of the Tliirty-second Tennessee ; and Harris, of the 



278 APPENDIX. 

Twenty-sixth Tennessee, assisted by Dr. J. B. McFerrin. We 
had some revival at a meeting in Bate's Brigade. Rev. Lieuten- 
ant Curry, of the Ninth Alabama, assisted Chaplain Ellis and 
myself. We also had a splendid experience-meeting on June 7. 
Dr. McFerrin preached for us that day. 

The conflict at Hoover's Gap closed our protracted meetings 
and the campaign in Middle Tennessee on the 24th of June, 1863. 

In July and August the Army of Tennessee was in camp 
around Chattanooga, Tenn. Lieutenant-general D. H. Hill was 
in command of our corps. He preferred to attend service in 
camp rather than to " slink " off" to town, as he expressed it, as 
was the custom of many. He was a true-blue Presbyterian, and 
a Christian indeed. He was also a great help to the chaplains 
in their camp service. Our army was now well furnished with 
chaplains, and amply supplied with missionaries of ability. 
Among the latter were the Revs. Messrs. Caldwell and Wills, 
Presbyterians ; Revs. R. P. Ransom, William Burr, and Welborn 
Mooney, of the Tennessee Conference ; and C. W. Miller,, of the 
Kentucky Conference. 

A protracted meeting of three weeks was conducted by Chap- 
lain Ellis and myself for Bate's Brigade at Tyner's Station, near 
Chattanooga in August. We were assisted by the Rev. Colonel 
Wiley Reed, of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
Nashville, Tenn.; Dr. Bryson, Presbyterian; Revs. Caldwell, 
Wills, R. P. Ransom, W. Mooney, C. W. Miller, John B. Steven- 
son, and J. P. McFerrin. Dr. B. M. Palmer, of New Orleans, 
preached us two grand sermons at the close of these meetings, 
and was announced to preach on the night of August 23, but the 
long roll called us to the march, and there was no more regular 
camp service until after the terrible conflict at Chickamauga on 
the 19th and 20th of September. A general revival prevailed in 
our army around Chattanooga in the summer of 18G3. 



EELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN AEMY. 279 

On the 3d and 4th of November, 1863, the chaplains and mis- 
sionaries of the army held a council of two sessions daily at the 
Lookout Hotel, on Lookout Mountain. Dr. B. W. McDonald, of 
the Fiftieth Alabama, Chairman ; Rev. A. D. McYoy, of the Fif- 
ty-eighth Alabama, Secretary. 

The Army and Navy Herald was established in Macon, Ga., in 
October, 1863, and General Bragg was requested to designate 
some one to act as " Distributing Agent of Religious Reading for 
the Army of Tennessee." On the recommendation of Dr. Mc- 
Ferrin and chaplains and others in the army, I was appointed 
to that work, and took leave of the Fourth Tennessee and the 
Thirty-seventh Georgia Regiments, with which I had been so 
intimately associated for more than two years. My duties were 
still mucli in camp, but more general and extensive. I preached 
and labored much more in my wider field than while chai^lain 
of the two regiments. 

After the battle of Missionary Ridge our army went into win- 
ter-quarters at Dalton, Ga., where rough log houses were erected 
in many brigades, and we witnessed the most wonderful revivals 
that I ever saw anywhere in my life. But I prefer the testiyaony 
of others rather than what I could pen myself, so I clip from the 
" Great Revival," by Dr. Bennett, and copy from " Christ in the 
Camp," by Dr. Jones. 

The venerable Dr. J. C. Stiles, about seventy years of age, 
preached a series of sermons at Dalton, Ga., in the winter of 
1863-4 that impressed me as the finest series of revival sermons 
I ever heard. He thus w^rote the Christian Observer of a revival 
in the Army of the Potomac near Winchester, Va., in 1862: 

General Pryor, upon one hour's notice, marched np twelve to fifteen 
hundred men, Avho listened with so much interest to a lonjr sermon that I 
was not surprised to hear of such a beginning of religious interest in 
various regiments of the brigade as issued in a half-way promise on my 
part to fall in with the proposal of the general to pi'each very early to 



280 APPENDIX. 

his soldiers for a succession of nights. In General Lawton's Brigade there 
is a more decided state of religious excitement. The great body of the 
soldiers in some of the regiments meet for prayer and exhortation every 
night, exhibit the deepest solemnity, and present themselves numerously 
for the prayers of the chaplains and the Church. Quite a pleasant num- 
ber expi-ess hope in Christ. In all other portions of General Early's Di- 
vision (formerly General Ewell's) a similar religious sensibility prevails. 

In General Trimble's and the immediate neighboring brigades there 
is in progress at this hour one of the most glorious revivals I ever wit- 
nessed. Some days ago a young chaplain of the Baptist Church, as a 
representative of three others of the same denomination, took a long ride 
to solicit my co-operation, stating that a promising seriousness had sprung 
up within their diocese. I have now been with him three days and nights, 
preaching and laboring constantly with the soldiers when not on drill. 
The audiences and the interest have grown to glorious dimensions. It 
would rejoice you over-deeply to glance for one instant on our night 
meetings in the wild woods under a full moon, aided by the light of our 
side stands. You would behold a mass of men seated on the earth all 
around you (I was going to say for the space of half an acre), fringed in 
all its circumference by a line of standing officers and soldiers— two or 
three deep— all exhibiting the most solemn and respectful earnestness that 
a Christian assembly ever displayed. An officer said to me last night on 
returning from worship that he had never witnessed such a scene, though 
a Presbyterian ehler, especially such an abiding solemnity and delight in 
the services as preventeil all wdiispering in the outskirts, leaving of the 
congregation, or restless change of position. I suppose at the close of the 
services we had some sixty or seventy men and officers come forward and 
l)ublicly solicit an interest in our prayers, and there may have been as 
many more who, from the press, could not re.-ich the stand. I have al- 
ready conversed with quite a numljer who seem to give pleasant evi- 
dence of return to God, and all things seem to be rapidly developing for 
the best. ■;: 

The officers, especially Generals Jackson and Early, have modified 
military rules for our accommodation. I have just learned that General 
A. P. Hill's Division enjoys as rich a dispensation of God's Spirit as Gen- 
eral Early's. 

P. S.— I have opened this letter the second time to inform you of the 
wide spread of holy influence. In General Pickett's Division also there 
are said to"be revivals of religion. 



BELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 281 

Dr. Bennett thus continues the account of the revival in the 
Army of Northern Virginia : 

There was scarcely a brigade in the army in which the work of revival 
did not go forward with deepening power. Some of tlie far Southern 
troops were signally blessed with great outpourings of the Spirit. The 
Sixtieth Georgia Regiment Avas favored with the services of a most ex- 
cellent chaplain, Rev. S. S. Smith, under whose ministry many were 
brought to Christ. In a letter describing the revival among his men, he 
says: "About the first and middle of October we held a series of meetings 
in camps, during which time many souls were renewed and encouraged, 
several were made happy in the love of God, and the altar was crowded 
from day to daj' with seekers of religion. The like was hardly ever be- 
fore AvitnessfAl in camps. I was blessed with the assistance of the Rev. 
Dr. Joseph Stiles, of tlie Presbyterian Church, to Avhom the armj^ owes a 
debt of gratitude for his arduous labors and efforts to save sinners from 
the wrath to come." 

The levival was not confined to the soldier m camp. In the toAvns in 
Virginia where military hospitals Avere located there Avere gracious dis- 
plays of the power of God in the salvation of souls. The convalescent 
soldiers flocked to the churches and croAvded the altars as humble peni- 
tents. In Farmville, under the ministry of Rev. Nelson Head, there Avas 
a most interesting i-evival, and the greater number of the converts Avcre 
soldiers from Georgia and Alabama. In Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Pe- 
tersburg, and Richmond the Avork Avas pervasive and powerful. A Avriter 
in one of the Richmond secular papers, speaking of the Avork of grace in 
the hospitals in that city and otlier places, says: "At Camj) Winder, for 
some weeks, there has been in progress a revival of religion. Thirty-five 
soldiers haA-e professed to be converted. Daily meetings are being held, 
and numbers are manifesting a deep interest in reference to spiritual 
things. A revival is also in progress at Chimborazo, and frequently from 
thirty to fortj' present themselves as ' inquirers.' Many have professed 
to experience the saving change. One hundred hnve professed conversion 
Avithin a comparatively brief period in the hospitals in Petersburg. For 
more than a month a protracted meeting has been in progress at Lynch- 
burg, at Avhich some twenty soldiers have made the good profession. We 
learn from the post chaplain in Farmville that there is considerable relig- 
ious interest among the hospitals there, and that eight have professed 
conversion. At other points the divine blessing is being richly bestowed 



282 APPENDIX. 

ui)on the pious efforts of chaplains and colporteurs. There can be no more 
inviting lielcl lor Christian enterprise than that presented by the hospi- 
tals. In this city alone over ninety-nine thousand sick and wounded sol- 
diers have been in the hospitals. At no time do men feel more grateful 
to the Giver of all good, and more like becoming pious, than when recov- 
ering from long spells of sickness." 

The revival at this period of the war was undoubtedly greater and 
more glorious in the army in Virginia than in other portions of the Con- 
federacy, but there were happy signs of spiritual life among the troops 
in the far South and West. On Sullivan's Island, near Charleston, S. C, 
there was a blessed work of grace, which powerfully checked the ordi- 
nary vices of the camp and brought many souls into the fold of the Good 
Shepherd. Speaking of his work, in a letter of October i), llev. E. J. Mey- 
uardie, chaplain of Colonel Keitt's Regiment of South Carolina Volun- 
teers, says: "• On Thursday evening, 25th ult., the religious interest, 
which for some tiiuc had been quite apparent, became so deep and mani- 
fest that 1 determined to hold a series of meetings, during which, u\) to 
last night, ninety-three applied for membership in the various branches 
of the Church, nearly all of whom profess conversion. Every night the 
church at which we worshiped was densely crowded, and obvious serious- 
ness pervaded the congregation. To the invitation to approach the altar 
for prayer prompt and anxious responses were made, and it was indeed 
an unusual and impressive spectacle to behold the soldiers of the country, 
ready for battle, and even for death on the battle-field, bowed in prayer 
for that blessing which the warrior, of all others, so much needs. God 
was with us most graciously, and it was a period of iirofound interest and 
great joy. The influence of this meeting has pervaded the regiment, and 
is still operating most beneficially. To what extent it has improved the 
morals of the soldiers it is impossible to estimate. Suffice it to say, that 
it has struck at the very root of camp vices, and that the great crime 
which is more frequently committed in the army than any other, profan- 
ity, hides its deformed head." 

It was now that the signs of that wonderful revival in the Army of the 
West began to appear. "I shall never forget," says Rev. W. H. Brown- 
ing, "the look of astonishment in the Association of Chai)lains in .Tanu- 
ary, 1863, when Brother Winchester, a chnplain and a minister in the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, announced a conversion in his com- 
mand, and stated that he believed that Ave were on the eve of one of the 
most glorious revivals ever witnessed on the American continent. His 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 283 

countenance glowed with an unearthly radiance, and while he spoke ' our 
liearts burned within us.' He urged us to look for it, i)ray lor it, lucach 
for it. A revival in the army! The thing was incredible. And yet, 
while we listened to this man of faith, Ave could almost heai the .shouts of 
redeemed souls that were being born to God. We could not biit catch the 
zeal of this good man, and went away resolved to work for a revival." 

This pious man was not permitted to participate in the revival which 
he so feelingly predicted. He was soon called to the spirit world. 

A General Association of Chaplains and Missionaries had been formed 
in this army m August of this year (1SG3), but the subsequent movements 
greatly interfered with its complete organization, and it was not until 
November followiaig that it was properly organized and made leally effi- 
cient. Kev. Dr. McDonald, President of Lebanon University, was the 
President, and Rev. Welborn Mooney, of the Tennessee Conference, was 
the Secretary, Mr. Browning supposes the proceedings of this associa- 
t)t>n were lost in the subsequent reverses of the army, and hence Ave arc 
cut oil" from most reliable information concerning the progress of the re- 
vival. Tlic seeds of truth Avere sown by such faithful laborers as Kev. 
]M. 1>. De Witt, chaplain of the Eighth Tennessee; Rev. Mr. Weaver, of 
th^ TAventy-eighth Tennessee; Rev. Tilmon Page, of the Fifty-second 
Tennessee; and Rev. W. H. Browning, chaplain of General IVLarcus 
Wright's Brigade. In otlier portions of the army, under the preaching 
of Rev. S. M. Cherry, Rev. Messrs. Petway, Taylor, Henderson, and scores 
of other devoted and self-sacrificing ministers, the revival influence be- 
came deep and powerful. 

Rev. L. R. Redding, a Methodist of the Georgia Conference, began his 
Avork in Gist's Brigade, assisted by the Revs. F. Auld and J. P. Dc Pass. 
He thus writes of the revi>al near Dalton in 18(54: "-The gallant Colonel 
ISIcCiillough, of tlie Sixteenth South Carolina, himself a godly man, leads 
his men to the place of worship. The Twenty-fourth South Carolina falls 
into line, led by their chaplain, Mr. Auld, and their brave Colonel Capers, 
son of the deceased Bishop Capers, of the Southern MethoUist Church. 
The benches and the pulpit have to be removed from the house, and a 
dense multitude of hearers crown the chapel hill. A clear, strong voice 
starts a familiar old hymn, and soon thousands of voices chime in and the 
evening air is burdened Avith a great song of praise. The preacher now 
enters the stand, and a thousand voices are hushed and a thousand hearts 
are stilled to hear the word of the Lord. Perhaps the speaker is Rev. 
William Burr, of Tennessee. As he rises with his theme, his silvery, 



284 APPENDIX. 

truinpet-like voice, clear as a bugle note, rings far out over the mass of 
men, and liunclreds sob with emotion as he reasons with them of right- 
eousness, of temperance, and a judgment to come. At the close of the 
sermon hundreds bow in penitence and prayer, many are converted, 
tattoo beats— tlie men disperse to their cabins, not to sleep, but to pray 
and sing with their sorrowing comrades; and far into the night the camps 
are vocal with the songs of Zion and the rejoicing of newborn souls." 

In this revival, described by an eye-witness, one hundred and forty 
were converted in two weeks, among them Colonel Dunlap, of the Forty- 
sixth Georgia, who uniled with the Presbyterian Church. Among the 
])rivate soldiers that contributed to the siu;cess of this work Ave are glad 
to place on record the name of W. J. Brown, of Company I, Forty-sixth 
Georgia. His influence with his regiment was very great, and he threw 
it all in favor of religion. He entered the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
and, if we are not misinformed, is now in the ministry. Colonel Dunlap, 
converted in camp, became an earnest Christian, and labored with zeal 
and success to bring his men to Christ. He was five times wounded, but 
survived the war, and is now an honored citizen of Georgia. 

General C. A. Evans was a Methodist and a class-leader before the 
war. He entered as a private in the Thirty-first Georgia, Avas elected 
major at its organization, and colonel at its reorganization six months 
aftei-Avard. lie greatly distinguished himself at the battles around Rich- 
mond, at Manassas, and at Fredericksburg. He Avas promoted and put 
in command of General Gordon's celebrated brigade. The last year of 
the Avar he commanded Gordon's old division. He Avas an earnest, Avork- 
ing Christian, and in the midst of Avar the call came to him to preach the 
gospel, but he Avore his SAVord until the fatal day of Appomattox, Avhen, 
Avith liis noble comrades, he laid down the Aveapons of Avar, returned to 
his home, and Avas soon aftcrAvard licensed to preach and receiA'ed into 
the Georgia Conference. It is a singular incident that his first circuit 
Avas called Manassas, and that his junior preacher Avas one of his old army 
couriers. He is still actiA^cly engaged in the ministerial Avork. 

The revival Avas hardly less poAvcrful in those regiments and brigades 
Avhich Avere faA^ored with the regular services of chaplains than in those 
that had none. The Second Arkansas, of Liddell's Brigade, Cleburne's 
Division, had no chaplain at the time of AvhichAve Avrite; but they Avere 
led by pious officers, Avho strove to stem the tide of ii-religion. Lieuten- 
ant-colonel Harvey, Captain H. D. Cregg, Lieutenant Wilfong, and 
others, being profoundly impressed with the great need of religious serv- 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 285 

ices, formed themselves into a band of Christian soldiers and began a 
moral warfare against the powers of darkness. They fought gallantly 
and well. 

The main body of the Confederate army remained in winter-quarters, 
and here began one of the most powerful revivals Avitnessed during the 
war. Fredericksburg was the center of the work, and the minister who 
contributed more to its success in the town than any other was the Rev. 
William Benton Owen, connected Avith General Barksdale's Mississippi 
Brigade. Mr. Owen was earnest in calling to his help the ministers of 
all the different Churches, and, among others, he was favored at this time 
with the aid of Rev. Dr. J. C. Stiles, an eminent and eloquent minister 
of the Presbyterian Church. In the latter part of February he reached 
the town, and entered into the work with his well-known ardor. lie says : 
"•After my arrival we held three meetings a day — a morning and after- 
noon prayer-meeting, and a preaching seivice at night. We could 
scarce!}' ask of delightful religious interest more than we received. Our 
sanctuary has been crowded— lower floor and gallery. Loud, animated 
singing always hailed our approach to the house of God; and a closely 
packed audience of men, amongst Avhom you might have searched in vain 
for one white hair, were leaning npon the voice of the preacher as if God 
himself had called them together to hear of life and death eternal. At 
every call for the anxious the entire altar, the front seats of the five 
blocks of pews surrounding the pulpit, and all the spaces thereabouts 
ever so closely packed, conld scarcely accommodate the supplicants, while 
daily conversions gave peculiar interest to the sanctuary services. Of 
this class we have numbered during the week say some forty or fifty souls. 
Officers are beginning to bow for prayer, and oiir house to be too strait 
for worshipers. The audience, the interest, the converted, the fidelity 
of thQ Church, and the expectations of the ministry, are all steadily and 
most hopefully increasing." 

Rev. W. C. Dunlap, chaplain of the noble Eighth Geoi'gia Regiment, 
wi'ote in reference to this work : " God has wonderfully blessed us of late. 
AVe have had going on in our midst a revival of religion, with more or less 
interest, since the battles in front of Richmond. Recently, however, it has 
grown greatly in interest, and before breaking up camps near Freder- 
icksburg, the Lord was doing a mighty work in our midst. I have held 
prayer-meetings in my own regiment until ten o'clock many a night, and 
after closing the brethren would all retire to the woods, frequently ac- 
companied by a half-do::cu mourners, and there, with no other covering 



286 APPENDIX. 

save the open canopy of heaven, pour out Lhcir souls in humble supplica- 
tion at a throne of grace, often remaining until after midnight; and, Avhat 
is remarkable, I never have known the meeting to close without the wit- 
nessing influences of the Holy Spirit." 

Tlie revival at Fredcricksbui-g, already noticed, continued through the 
greater part of the spring with the greatest power. The labors of Dr. 
btiles were blessed and honored in the salvation of many souls, but he 
was compelled to leave for other scenes of labor. Rev. James D. Coulling 
and other ministers went to the help of Mv. Owen, and, by their earnest 
and pointed preaching, greatly promoted the work. An eye-witness, 
writing at this time from the scene, says: " Last evening there were fully 
one hundred penitents at the altar. So great is the work, and so inter- 
ested are the soldiers, that the M. E. Church, South, has been found inad- 
equate for the accommodation of the congi-egations, and the Episco])al 
Church having been kindly tendered by its pastor, Kev. IMr. Randolph, 
Avho is now here, the services have been removed to that edifice, where 
devotions are held as often as three times a day. This work is widening 
and deepening, and, ere it closes, it may permeate the whole Army of 
Northern Virginia, and bring forth fruits in the building up and strength- 
ening, in a pure faith and a true Christianity, of the best ai'my the world 
ever saw." 

In the churches, scarred and torn by the balls and shells from the Fed- 
eral batteries, the meetings were held night after night for many weeks, 
and the scenes wei'e such as thrill the angelic hosts in heaven. In the 
space of six weeks one hundred and sixty professed religion in Barks- 
dale's Brigade, while scores of others were earnestly seeking salvation. 

There was hardly a regiment of the army where the revival influence 
was not felt. Rev. W. A. Ilennningway rejoiced in a gracious revival in 
the Twenty-flrst South Carolina Regiment, which lasted for months. 
Rev. L. S. "West, of the Thirteenth Mississippi, conducted a meeting for 
six weeks, in which many were happily converted. Rev. S. H. Smith, of 
the sixtieth Georgia (Lawton's Brigade) collected from the soldiers and 
oflicers $850 to purchase Bibles, Testaments, and hymn-books, and saw 
the men daily anxious " about the salvation of their souls." Rev. F. Mil- 
ton Kennedy, chaplain of the Twenty-eighth North Carolina Regiment 
of Jackson's Corps, found " the men generally interested in their spiritual 
welfare." A Chaplains' Association Avas formed,* and weekly meetings 
held to consult upon the best method of prosecuting our Avork and to pray 
for success. The chaplains of this corps issued an earnest appeal for more 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 287 

laborers. The fields were white to the harvest, but the laborers were lew, 
Avhile thousauds of the noblest of the land, having left home and friends, 
were calling loudly and earnestly lor the bread of life. To this and other 
calls the Churches responded by sending some of their ablest ministers 
into the army work, who, by their earnest labors, greatly extended the 
area of the revival. 

The signs from other portions of the army m the West and South-west 
were equally cheering. Along the lines in East Tennessee the revival 
began to spread with great power. Kev. W. B. Norris, writing from 
Loudon, Tenn., says: *^ During the month (April) there has been a deep 
religious interest among the soldiers here. We have had a series of meet- 
ings for about two weeks, which, wo hope, resulted in much good. The 
church in which we met was always crowded to the utmost, and there 
were always many seekers for the way of eternal life." 

In the Fifty-ninth Tennessee Regiment there was a glorious work. 
Rev. S. Strick, the chaplain, says: -God is at work among our men. 
Many are earnestly seeking the pardon of their sins. Some have been con- 
verted. Our nightly prayer-meetings are well attended by anxious list- 
eners, and my tent is crowded daily by deeply penitent souls. Never 
have I known such a state of religious feeling in our army as at this time. 
God's Spirit is moving the hearts of our soldiers." 

The great concern of the people at home for the salvation of their fel- 
low-countrymen in the armies soon bore fruit. In the Army of Tennes- 
see there was a glorious v/ork, which embraced hundx-eds and thousands 
in its infiuence. The Rev. F. S. T>etway, chaplain of the Forty-fourth 
Tennessee Regiment, Johnson's Brigade, Cleburne's Division, in connec- 
tion with other ministers, reported a wonderful revival in that celebrated 
command. " In the latter part of March," he says, " Chaplain Taylor, of 
the Twenty-third Tennessee Regiment, commenced a series of meetings at 
TuUahoma, assisted by Rev. A. W. Smith, of the Twenty-fifth, and myself, 
which continued for several weeks, until temporarily interrupted by mili- 
tary movements. These meetings have resulted in much spiritual benefit 
to professed Christians, while about one hundred and five souls have em- 
braced Christ as their Saviour. In General Wood's Brigade a meeting of 
great interest has for several weeks been under the supervision of Rov. 
F, A. Kimball, chaplain of the Sixteenth Alabama, assisted mainly by 
Colonel Reed, Chief of Provost Marshal Department in Hardee's Corps, 
and Colonel Lowery, of the Forty-fifth and Thirty-second Mississippi, 
the result of which has been one hundred conversions. In the same bri- 



288 APPENDIX. 

gade Chaplain Otkin, of Colonel Lowery's Regiment, has been conduct- 
ing religious services, wliich, from the best information received, has 
been productive of gr^3at good in restoring many wanderers to their 
former enjoyments and inducting about forty-five souls into the kingdom 
of Christ. In General Polk's Brigade, Brothers Davis, of the First Arkan- 
sas, and Quarles, of the Forty-lifth Tennessee, have been laboring with 
commendable zeal and success in their respective commands, with occa- 
sional assistance from Chaplains Smith and Taylor, and as the fruit of 
their labors God has converted about seventy souls. In General Liddell's 
Arkansas Brigade, which is destitute of a chaplain, a meeting was com- 
menced live weeks since by Brother G. W. Anderson, preacher in charge 
of Bedford Circuit, but who, in consequence of aflliction, was forced to 
retire in the very incipiency of an encouraging revival. The charge of 
tlie meeting devolved on me, and, with the efllcient aid of Brothers Taylor 
Smiih and .1. B. Stevenson, it has continued up to the present time with- 
out any abatement of interest. Each night crowds of penitents throng 
the altar for prayers— averaging from eighty-five to one hundred— and 
the number of conversions, according to the most correct estimate, will 
not fall below one hundred and forty." 

Tlic whole number converted at these meetings was four hundred and 
seventy-eight, while hundreds more, who had yielded to the vices and 
temptations of the camp, found the joy of salvation restored to their souls. 
Under the preaching of Rev. S. M. Cherry, in McCown's Division, the 
conversions in two regiments reached one hundred and forty. In the 
brigades of Generals A. P. Stewart and Wright the revival was power- 
ful, and many were converted. "In these revivals," says Mr, Pet- 
way, "• two encouraging facts are made manifest. We see officers, from 
colonels of regiments down to captains, lieutenants, and sergeants, giving 
their counsels and mingling their tears, songs, and prayers M'ith those of 
the private soldier, and a good number of those who are thus engaged 
have recently been made partakers of God's converting grace." 

To this work Rev. Dr. J. B. INIcFerrin, Avho had been recently appointed 
army missionarj', contributed greatly by his able and fervent sermons. 
He was personally known to thousands of the Army of Tennessee, and 
his coming was like the visit of a father to his children. 

The Presbyterian Church sent forth many of her ablest ministers. 
Rev. Dr. Waddell, Chancellor of the University of Mississippi, was ap- 
])ointed Superintendent of Army Missions in the West and South-Avest, 
and he was ably supported by such men as Dr. Palmer, of New Or'.eans, 



EELIGION IN THE SOUTHEKN ARMY. 289 

Dr. Eutheiford, Dr. E. T. Baird, Rev. J. H. Bryson, and many other 
earnest preachers. In the Army of Northern Virginia they had Dr. B. T. 
Lacy, Dr. R. E. Dabney, and others, Avho gave a great impetus to the re- 
vival by their nnwearied and successful labors. Besides the regular mis- 
sionaries, the pastors of the home Churches of all denominations visited 
and preached to the various camps on all occasions when they could spare 
time from their charges. 

Rev. Messrs. McFerrin, Petway, anil Ransom, of the M. E. Church, 
South, went to the help of General Bragg'sarmy; Messrs. Thweat and 
Ilarrnigton, of the same Church, to the army in Mississippi; Avhile Bishop 
Tierce, Dr. A. L. P. Green, and Rev. J. E. Evans went to General Lee's 
army in Virginia. Rev. Dr. Ivavanaugh was sent to the army of General 
Price, and Rev. Mr. Marvin (now Bishop) was directed by Bishop Pierce 
to take position as missionary with any army corps west of the Missis- 
sippi. The work of these ministers, with that of other zealous men from 
sister Churches, gave a great impulse to the revival. In Colonel Col- 
quitt's Forty-sixth Georgia Regiment, camped near Verona, Miss., the 
work was powerful, and great numbers were converted. " Last night," 
says Rev. T. C. Stanley, "there were about eighty presented themselves 
for i)rayer, kneeling upon the ground." 

Rev. R. G. Porter, chaplain of the Tenth Mississippi Regiment, Bragg's 
army, says: "It makes mj' very soul happy to witness the manifesta- 
tions of God's saving poAver as seen here in the army— from ten to forty at 
the altar of prayer. Have preaching every day when not hindered by the 
men being called oflF." 

The Rev. Dr. Palmer, of New Orleans, pi'eached with power and love, 
and under his word the revival deepened. Rev. C. W. Miller, army mis- 
sionary, writes of the work in Georgia in General D. H. Hill's Corps: 
" Since I arrived here as missionary I have been engaged every night in 
religious services with the soldiers. A revival and extensive awakening 
have been in progress in General Bate's Brigade for four weeks. Every 
night the altar is crowded Avith weeping penitents. Several have l)een 
happily converted. To mc it is the most interesting sight of my life." 

Even under the fire of the Federal batteries the work went on. Rev. 
Mr. Browning, from Chattanooga, says: "Yesterday evening about live 
o'clock the enemy began to throw shells across the river again, firing 
slowly for about an hour. Notwithstanding this, at the usual hour f twi- 
light) we had a very large crowd of anxious listeners at the rude arbor 
the men had erected for the worship of God. A short discourse was de- 

19 



290 APPENDIX. 

livered, when the penitents were invited to the altar. Fifty or sixty came 
forward, earnestly inquiring the way of salvation. Ten of this number 
were converted and enabled to 'testify of a truth' that Christ was their 
Saviour. The work is still extending. Each night increases the attend- 
ance, the interest, and the number of penitents. During a ministry of a 
fourth of a century I have never witnessed a work so deep, so general, and 
so successful. It pervades all classes of the army (in this brigade), and 
elicits the co-operation of all denominations. We know no distinction 
here. Baptists, Cumberlands, Old Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and 
INIethodists work together and rejoice together at the success of our cause." 
Mr. Browning writes again from the same place: "The glorious work 
of God is still progressing in this brigade. About one hundred and thirty 
conversions up to this time. The interest is unabated— from sixty to 
seventy-five penitents at the altar each night. It is wonderful that for 
nearly five weeks we have been enabled to continue this work, with but 
one night's interference from rain and one on picket." 

From General Bragg's army, that veteran soldier of the cross, Dr. J. 
B. McFerrin, wrote: "I have the pleasure of saying that, notAvithstand- 
ing the recent numerous movements of the Army of Tennessee, the work 
of God still progresses. Many have been brought to Christ in various 
brigades, and whenever the troops remain long enough in one place relig- 
ious services are observed with great effect. The chaplains and mis- 
sionaries work with zeal, and have much good fruit. Let our friends at 
home thank God and take courage. Hundreds of soldiers are coming to 
Jesus. My health is good, though I feel weak with jaundice. We now 
have at work in this army, as missionaries from our Church, Revs. R. P. 
Ransom, C. W. Miller, Wellborn Mooney, W. Burr, Brother Allen, and 
your humble servant. We expect Brother Petway." 

Soldiei-s were converted by thousands every week. From Virginia 
Rev. G. R. Talley wrote: "God is w^onderfully reviving his work here 
and throughout the army. Congregations large, interest almost univer- 
sal. In our chaplains' meeting it w^as thought, with imperfect statistics, 
that about five hundred are converted every week. We greatly need 
chaplains— men of experience and ministerial influence. Our Regiment- 
al Christian Association, as a kind of substitute for a Church, and our 
Bible classes are doing well." 

Under the powerful stimulus of such a revival the Churches at home 
redoubled their efforts to supply preachers. 

Rev. S. M. Cherry, one of the most faithful laborers among the soldiers 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 291 

« 
of the Western arnij'^, gives an account of the blessed scenes that were 
witnessed among the wounded and dying men at Chickamauga. Of the 
work of the chaplains he says: ^'Dr. McFerrin was at Cleburne's Divis- 
ion liospital, where his son Avas, slightly wounded, and his nephew, Rev. 
John P. McFerrin, severely wounded, working with the sufferei's. Dr. 
Cross, chaplain on General Buckner's staff, was on the field and at. the 
hospital. BrothersMooney and Miller were at Stewart's Division hospital, 
active and industrious in attending to the wounded and dying. Dr. Pet- 
way came in good time to render efficient aid in the double capacily of 
surgeon and minister. I saw Brothers Burr and Browning on the field; 
also Brothers Quarles, Harris, A. W. Smith, Fitzgerald, Daniel, and others, 
looking after their wounded and suffering soldiers. Chaplain Willoughby 
was with the dying, and superintended the burial of the dead of our di- 
vision. Brother McVoy came in time to minister to the wants of his men 
at the hospital, and many others were at the post of duty, if not of danger." 
"It was encouraging," he says, "to the Christian heart, to see the sol- 
diers of the cross die so heroicly. Said Mr. Pool, a member of the Meth- 
odist Church in Columbns, Ga., whose shoulder was shattered: ' Parson, 
write my wife a calm letter, and tell her how I died, for I will never be 
able to write to her again. Tell her I was ready and willing to die.' Mr. 
Turner, of Elbert County, Ga,, was horribly m'angled by a shell, and 
while on the gory litter said to me: 'I want to die; all is Avell,' Sam 
Robins, of Spring Place, Ga., amid the flying, falling, and exploding 
shells, handed me his hymn-book and his wife's ambrotype, having the 
night previous talked long with me about his religions enjoyments, pious 
mother, and praying father, sending messages of love to his youthfiil wife, 
and testifying that he had no fear of death." 

We have already stated that the Presbyterian Church sent over fifty 
laborers into the army. At the session of the Synod of Virginia Dr. J, 
Leighton Wilson, Secretary of Missions, gave a sketch of the army revival, 
and urged that his Church prosecute its army mission-work with increased 
zeal. Dr. Wilson said: " There is a state of religion in the Army of Ten- 
nessee quite as interesting as that in the Army of Northern Virginia, 
The Rev. Dr, Palmer says he has never before seen so great a movement. 
Go where you will, and only let it be known that yon ai-e to preach— it 
hardly makes a difference who the preacher is— and crowds will attend to 
hear. Dr. Wilson thought it doubtful whether there had been any thing 
since the days of Pentecost equal to this wonderful work of the Holy 
Spirit of God in our army. If ever there was a mighty, an imperative 



292 APPENDIX. 

call upon lis, it is now. If we do not rise to the occasion, our Church will 
'degrade herself before the world and before other denominations." 

Of his work after the battle of Chickaniauga Dr. J. B. McFerrin wrote: 
"The revival in the ami}' progressed up to the time of the Chickamauga 
fight; and even since, notwithstanding the condition of troops moving to 
and fro, or engaged in erecting fortifications, the good work in some regi- 
ments still goes on. The good accomplished by the ministry of the word 
will never be appreciated by the Church till the light of eternity shall re- 
veal it. Some of the fruits have already ripened: souls converted in the 
army have gone to tlie rest that remains for the people of God. The chap- 
lains and missionaries will have many seals to their ministry." 

We have already referred to the gallant band that General Price led 
from Missouri, and their deeds of valor at Corinth, Miss., and otherplaces 
are well known to those who can recall the scenes in the South -west. One 
of the most faithful laborers in this corps of our army was Rev. Dr. I?. T. 
Kavanaugh, who has kindly sent us the following account of the revival 
which prevailed in General Price's Corps on this side and beyond the 
Mississippi River: "Among those who came out of Missouri with General 
Price's army are John R. Bennett (your brother), W. M. Patterson, Nathan- 
iel M. Talbott, and myself, besides Brothers Minchell, Harris, Diyden, aufl 
McCary. Subsequently we were joined by Brother E. M. Marvin (now Bish- 
op) and others. But little visible efl'ect followed our preaching for the 
first year or two, while the soldier's life was a novelty; but after two 
years' hard service the romance of the soldier's life wore ofl", and a more 
sober and serious mood seemed to prevail in our camps. The first decided 
revival that occurred under my observation and ministry was in the 
State of Mississippi, to Avhich State I had followed General Price's army, 
while we were encamped near Tupelo. Here we kept up nightly meet- 
ings for several weeks in our camp, and there were some forty conversions 
or more. Brothers Bennett, Harris, and myself hold a profitable meeting 
near Grenada, Miss., where we had some conversions; but for a length of 
time the army was kept in motion so constantly that we had but little 
opportunity for religious services. When the army retreated from Big 
Black into Vicksburg Brothers Bennett. Patterson, and myself rode to- 
gether into that devoted city. The regiment to which I was tlien chap- 
lain had been captured at Big Black, and as I had no duties to perform, [ 
told those brethren that I should make my escape from the city before the 
enemy's lines Avere thrown around us, and requested them to join me. 
Brother Bennett refused, saying he should stick to his men, and Patterson 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 293 

refused to leave Bennett alone. I obtained leave of absence, and made my 
escape by riding all night alone, and found myself outside of Grant's lines 
the next morning, and went into Selma, Ala., where I spent the summer. 
J requested Bishop Paine to give me a commission as a missionary to 
General Price's army, which was then in Arkansas. I obtained it, and 
lelt the house of Robert A. Baker, my cousin, in Alabama, on September 
15, lSo8. 1 succeeded in making the trip, crossing the Mississippi River 
just below Bolivar, swimming my horse, and arrived in General Price's 
camp early in October. My first work was to organize all the chaplains 
and missionaries into an association for mutual aid and co-operation. 
When we went into camp at Camp Bragg, thirty miles west of Camden, we 
there commenced our work in earnest. Through the winter of 18G3-4we 
kept up our meetings in camp, had seats and pulpit prepared, and were 
successful in having more than one hundred conversions. After the bat- 
tles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, in Louisiana, our armies returned to 
Arkansas, and made an encampment at a place called Three Creeks, on 
the southern line of the State of Arkansas. Here I commenced preaching 
on June 10, 1864, and continued our meetings until the lOtli of September. 
An extensive revival commenced within a few days after our meeting 
commenced, and grew in interest and power to the close. We had preach- 
ing, beginning at early candle-light — or rather pine-knot fires on stands 
around the preaching-place. After about ten o'clock at night the preach- 
ing and other exercises at the stand closed; but this was but the begin- 
ning of the night's work. Like meetings were held in other camps by 
Dr. A. R. Winfield and Brother Jewell, of Camden. At Three Creeks I 
had the aid of Brothers Talbott, Dryden, and Minchell, of Missouri, and a 
Baptist chaplain from Arkansas, whose name I do not remember. To 
sum up the results of these gracious revivals in the army, we may safely 
say that at Three Creeks there were five hundred conversions, under 
Brothers Winfield and Jewell there were three hundred, at Camden and 
Camp Bragg there were two hundred— making in all in Arkansas one thou- 
sand souls. To show the genuineness of this work of grace upon the lives 
of these converts, we have to remark that after our camp was broken up, 
and the army was put upon the march to distant fields, wherever we went 
into camp but for a night our boys held prayer-meetings every night, 
greatly to the astonishment of the people in the country who were wit- 
nesses of their devotion. After the army was disbanded, in ridingthrough 
the country in Arkansas and Texas, I met with some of our converts, who 
had returned to their families and parents, and they were still true to 



294 APPENDIX. 

their profession and evinced a decidedly firm Christian character. The 
parents of some of these young men have since told me that in place of 
having the characters and habits of their sons ruined by being in the 
army they had returned to them as happy Christian men." 

In a letter from the lines in front of Atlanta the Rev. S. M. Cherry gives 
an account of the scenes he witnessed on the first Sunday in August, 180i: 
"At 9 A.M. I reached the Missouri Brigade of General French's Division, 
and found the soldiers gathering for i)rayer-meeting. At eleven o'clock 
Chajilain E. INI. Bounds, now editor of the St. Louis Christian Advocate, 
was to preach the funeral sermon of Rev. Mr. Manning, a pious j'oung 
minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, recently appointed 
chaplain of a Missouri regiment, but before he received his commission he 
was killed in battle wliile in the discharge of his duties as an officer of the 
line. As I approached Sears's Mississippi Brigade I saw a group of sol- 
diers, with uncovered heads, bowing beside a row of new-made graves, 
two of which contained the forms of comrades now being consigned to the 
cold clay. Chaplain Lattimore was engaged in prayer. I joined in the 
solemn burial services of the soldiers slain in the strife of Saturday." 

Next he came to the brigades of Ector, McNair, and Gholson: " I looked 
around for a suitable place for preaching. A central point to the three 
commands was selected, but not a single tree or shrub was to be found to 
screen us from the intense heat of an August sun. Soon the 'singing col- 
lected a large congregation of attentive soldiers. A caisson served for a 
jjulpit, while the cannon, open-mouthed, stood in front of the foe. We 
were in full range and in open view of the enemy, but not a single shell or 
minie-ball was heard hissing or hurtling near during the hours service. 
The soldiers sat on the gioimd, beneath the burning sun, listening serious- 
ly to the words of life. At the close of the sermon they crowded up to get 
Testaments and papers. I regi'etted much that I could only furnish five 
of the former to a regiment. On Friday an intellectual young officer came 
forwaid and joined the Church. The day following he was killed in a 
skii-mish with the enemy. During the service in Sears's Brigade there was 
a sharp skirmish in the front of that command, and the pickets were so 
closely pressed that the officer in command of the brigade sent a re-enforce- 
ment at the close of the service, and there was a continuous cannonade to 
the left. Strange to see soldiers in the trenches with a sharp fire in front 
and a rapid roar of artillery on their flank, and a shower of rain falling, 
yet quietly sitting or patiently standing to hear the gospel." 

Up to January, 18G5, it was estimated that nearly one hundred and fifty 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 295 

thousand soldiers had been converted during the progress of the war, and 
it was believed that fully one-third of all the soldiers in the field were 
praying men and members of some branch of the Christian Church. A 
large proportion of the higher officers were men of faith and prayer, and 
many others, though not professedly religious, were moral and respectful 
to all the religious services, and confessed the value of the revival in pro- 
moting tlie efficiency of the army. 

Prison Service. 

Not only in the army at home did our soldiers manifest the deepest in- 
teres!; in religion, but even in the dreary prisons of the North they prayed 
for and received the divine blessing. An officer at Johnson's Island 
writes to the Southern Presbyterian: 

" This is the last quarter of a long, long twelve-months' confinement. I 
try to pass my time as profitably as I can. AVe have preaching regularly 
every Sabbath, prayer-meeting two or three times a week, and worship 
in my room every night. AVe also have a Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation, Masonic meetings, etc. I attend all of these, and fill out the rest of 
my time by reading the Bible. We have had some precious religious 
times. There have been about one hundred conversions— colonels, majors, 
captains, and lieutenants being among the number." 

A lieutenant writes tluis: "lam glad to state that lam abetter man 
than when you saw me last. There are about two thousand officers here, 
and I never have seen so great a change in the morals of any set of men as 
has been here in the last four months." 

We have referred to scenes in the prisons North and South where thou- 
sands languished and died. In Richmond was a prison noted over the 
whole country. We refer to the " Libby ." Here were confined many hun- 
dreds of Northern soldiers; to them the gospel was preached by Southern 
ministers, and may we not hope that some at least found the peace of God 
in the midst of war? The writer himself had the privilege of ofl'ering 
spiritual consolation to Federal soldiers, sick, wounded, and dying, and 
he rejoices to believe that not a few rested their souls in the last trying 
hour upon the merits of Christ, 

The following testimony comes from one who was personally engaged 
in the Messed Avork of leading soldiers on both sides to the fountain of life: 
'^In Richmond the Rev. Dr. Woodbridge, of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church, and family (and this was true of other clergymen), were found 
ready to furnish books, papers, etc., to abate the rigors of prison life to 



296 APPENDIX. 

Federal soldiers in the Libb}-. One of the ehapliiins ix'linqiiislicd his oth- 
er work, and devoted himself to visiting and preaching to the ofticers and 
sohlicrs, and to ministering to their Avants. This was followed up by fre- 
quent visits and ministrations of various kinds; and it is said that all the 
supplies sent from the Noi-th to the prisoners of war were brought about 
by a chaplain in a North Carolina regiment." 

Since the foregoing was in the hands of the compositor I liave 
received the following from the Rev. J. G. Bolton, now presiding 
elder of the Savannah District, who was well known to me as a 
most gallant private soldier from 18G1 till finally appointed 
chai)lain in 1863, I believe, and was very faithful and zealous, 
and truly popular among the soldiers until the surrender in 1865. 
Wiien the statement which he furnishes by my request was an- 
nounced at our chaplains' meeting at Dalton, the question very 
naturally asked and discussed was : " What became of the ten 
penitents — or the eight, rather — who were instantly killed while 
upon their knees seeking salvation?" Without any hesitation 
I declared: " If they were truly penitent, forsaking and confess- 
ing their sins, praying for pardon, trusting with all their hearts 
in Christ for salvation, they were saved." Who questions it? 

March 7, 1S90, 

After spending the winter near Dalton, Ga., some time in the spring- 
April, I think, of 1864— our (Maney's) brigade, Cheatham's Division, Army 
of Tennessee, was moved to a new encampment. After cleaning off the 
ground, burning the leaves and brush, and making ourselves as comfoi-t- 
able as possible, I, being chaplain of the Fiftieth Tennessee, got a number 
of my regiment and some members of the other regiments together. We 
cleaned off a place near the center of the brigade, and prepared seats for 
divine services, having had successful revival services in the command 
for several weeks previous. On Saturday evening -we linished uj) our 
work, and at the time for evening service the bugle sounded the Cinnch 
call and five or six hundred soldiers repaired to the i)lace for worshij). 
Rev. Allen T:ibl)le, late a member of the Tennessee Conference, who was 
chaplain of the Fourth (Confederate) Tennessee llegiment of Maney's Bri- 
gade, was to assist in the meeting. After conferring with him, it was 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 297 

agreed that I should preach Sat\irday night and he Siinday morning; so 
after the preliminary services I preached from Luke xii. 31: "But rather 
seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto 
you." Being young in the ministry, mine were not words of enticing 
wisdom; but the Holy Spirit was with us, and at the conclusion penitents 
Averc invited, and as well as I now remember, about fifty came to the altar 
loi- ])rayers, and the altar exercises had continued but a short while when 
the whole congregation was thrown into utter confusion. One penitent, 
a member of the Fourth Tennessee IJegiment, whom I thought would be 
converted in a moment, and to whom I had just been talking, suddenly 
fell back w aril against my knees and remained perfectly motionless. I 
put m3' hand upon his head, and found his skull crushed to pieces. I then 
calletl for a surgeon; and soon after, the confusion subsiding to some ex- 
tent, I learned that a tree had fallen in the midst of the congregation, 
kiUing eight instantly and mortally wounding two others who «lied <lur- 
mg the night, making ten in all. We buried them next day (Sunday) 
with military honors, the Methodist burial service being read by Rev. 
Tilman Page, late of the ^Memphis Conference, but then chaplain of one 
of the Tennessee regiments. It seemed that Avhile clearing up the en- 
campment a small limbless tree had caught on fire, and, being overlooked, 
had burned sufllciently to cause its fall, resulting as above stated. We 
continued the services during our stay at that place, and they were finally 
closed by the brigade being ordered to the front to meet Sherman, Avho 
was threatening an attack on Joseph E. Johnston, near Tunnel Hill. We 
were assisted in the meeting by Rev. C. I). Elliott, D.D., chaplain in Ma- 
ney's Brigade, and Rev. William Burr, late a member of the Tennessee 
Conference, and then a missionary to the Army of Tennessee. 

Lawrenceburg, Tenn., Jtaroh 4, 1890. 

Chaplains W. C. Atmore, of the Fifteenth Kentucky Regiment, 
Mher of C. P. Atmore, of the L. and N. Railroad ; J. E. Reed, of 
the Thirty-eighth Illinois Regiment; J. C. Thomas, of the 
Eighty-eighth Illinois Regiment of the Federal army, were capt- 
ured by our army at Stone's River December 31, 1862, and I had 
a pleasant interview with them. 

I am indebted to the Rev. Dr. J. William Jones's "Christ in 
the Camp" for the following list of chaplains in the Army of 
Northern Virginia: 



298 APPENDIX. 

First Maryland Regiment, Rev. Mr. Cameron. 

Virginia Regiments.— Fivst, Rev. Mr. Aldrich; Second, Rev. Mr. Mc- 
\^eigh and A. C. Hopkins; Third, Rev. Mr. Hammond and J. W. Ward; 
Fourtli, Rev. F. C.Tebbs and William R. MeXear; Seventh, J. H. Bocock, 

F. M. McCarthy, and Frazier; Eighth, T. A. Ware and G. W. Harris; 

Kinth, J. W. AValkup and G. W. Easter; Tenth, J. P. Hyde, S. S. Lam- 
beth, and Balthis; Eleventh, Dr. J. C. Granbery and T. C. Jennings; 

Twelfth, S. V. Hoyle; Thirteenth, Dr. J. William Jones; Fourteenth, 

Crocker; Fifteenth, J. F. August; Seventeenth, J. L. Johnson and li. M. 
Baker; Eighteenth, J. D. Black well; Nineteenth, P. Slaughter; Twenty- 
lirst, J. H. Gilmer; Twenty-third, P. C. Morton; Twenty-fourth, W. T. 
Gardiner; Twenty-fifth, G. B. Taylor and J. W. Jones; Twenty-sixth, W. 

E. Wiatt; Twenty-seventh, L. C. Vass; Twenty-eighth, Tlnsley; 

Twenty-ninth, Phillips; Thirtieth, W. R. D. Moncure; Thirty-fust, 

A. D. Lepps; Thirty-third, J. M. Grandin; Fortieth, G. T. Bagley and. J. 
M. Anderson; Forty-first, J. W. Pugh; Forty-second, Thomas Williams; 
Forty-fourth, R. 1. Mcllwane and James Nelson; forty-sixth, W. G. 
Miller; Forty-seventh, S. B. Meridith; Forty-eighth, George E. Booker; 
Forty-ninth, J. P. Garland; Fiftieth, J. W. Denny; Fifty-second, John 
Magill; Fifty-third, W. S. Penick, P. H. Fontaine, and Colton; Fifty- 
fifth, R. B. Beadles; Fifty-sixth, Bobbins; Fifty-seventh, J. E. Joy- 

ncr; Fifty-eighth, George Slaughter and L. B. Madison; Fifty-ninth, 
E. B. Wharton; Sixty-first, H. H. Hatcher. 

North Carolina Regiments.— Yirst, W. R. Gwaltney; Second Battal- 
ion, Tennent; Twelfth, J. H. Bobbins; Fourteenth, W. C. Power; 

P'ifteenth, S. W. Howerton; Sixteenth, Watson; Twentieth, L. A. 

Bickle and J. M. Sprunt; Twenty-second, F. H. Wood; Twenty-fourth, T. 

B. Neil; Twenty-sixth, A.N. Wells; Twenty-eighth, F. M. Kennedy ; Thir- 
tieth, A. D. Betts; Thirty-second, W. B. Richardson; Thirty-third, T. J. 
Eatman; Thirty-fourth, A. R. Benick; Thirty-seventh, A. L. Slough; 
Thirty-eight, McDiarmid; Forty-third, E. H. Thompson; Forty- 
fourth, R. S.Webb; Forty-fifth, E. H. Hardin; Forty-sixth, A. D. Cohen; 
Forty-seventh, W.S.Lacey; Forty-eight, C. Plyer; Fifty-first, San- 
ford and J. M. Cline; Fifty-third, J. H. Colton; Fifty-seventh, John 
Paris. 

South Carolina Regiments.— First, George T. T. Williams; Second, W. 
E. Walters; Fifth, J. N. Craig; Sixth, W. E. Boggs; Seventh, J. M. Car- 
lisle; Eighth, H. M. Brearly: Twelfth, Dixon and J. M. .^ndcr- 

son; Thirteenth, Wallace W. Duncan and J, N. Bouchelle; Fourteenth, 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 299 

W. B. Carson; Fifteenth, II. B. McCallum; Sharp -shooters, James Mc- 
Dowel. 

Georgia Begiments.— Third, J. M. Stokes; Fourth, R. F. Evans; Sixth, 

A. M. Thigpen; Seventh, Stokes; Eighth, W. C. Dunlap; Ninth, II. 

A. Tapper, A. B. Campbell, and J. C. Byrnham; Tenth, J. C. Camp; 

Eleventh, W. A. Simmons; Twelfth, A. M. Marshall and Pouldridge; 

Fifteenth, W. F. Robertson; Seventeenth, Hudson; Nineteenth, A. 

J. Jarrell and W. H. C. Cone; Twenty-second, W. H. McAfee; Twenty- 
third, W. A. Dodge; Twenty-seventh, G. S. Emory; Twenty-eighth, A. 
H. McVay ; Thirty-flrst, J, L. Fettigrew; Thirty-fifth, J. H, Taylor; Thir- 
ty-eighth, J.M. Brittian; Forty-fourth, H. E. Brooks; Forty-fifth, E. B. 
Barrett; Forty-eighth, J. A. Lowery; Forty-ninth, J. J. Hymon; Fif- 
tieth, W. L. Curry; Fifty-first, C. H. Toy; Sixtieth, S. H. Smith; Sixty- 
first, A'. B. Woodfin; Second Battalion, J. O. A. Sparks; Wofford's Bri- 
gade, W. P. Dubose. 

Florida Begime7its. —Second, J. W. Timberlake; Seventh, J. H. Tom- 
kies; Eleventh, ■^— Little. 

Alabama Regiments. — Third, T. J. Rutledge; Fourth, Robert Frazicr; 
Fifth, W. G. Curry; Sixth, G. R. Talley; Eighth, W. E. Massey; Ninth, 

M. L. Whitten; Tenth, J. J. D. Renfroe; Eleventh, Johnson; Twelfth, 

II. G. Moore; Thirteenth, T. H, Howell; Twenty-sixth, William E. Cam- 
eron; Forty -fourth, W. G. Perry; Forty-eighth, Price. 

Mississippi Hegiments.—T welith, C. II. Dobbs; Thirteenth, West; 

Sixteenth, A. A. Lomax; Seventeenth, W. B. Owen; Eighteenth, J. A. 
Hackett; Nineteenth, Duke; Twenty-first, McDonald; Twenty- 
sixth, M. B. Chapman; Forty-second, T. D. Witherspoon; Forty-eighth, 
A. E. Garrison. 

Louisiana Regiments.— First, Father Sheran; Second, Robert Hardee; 
Fifth, William M. Strickler; Seventh, Father Hubert; Eighth, Father 
Schmilders; Ninth, F. McCarthy. 

Tennessee Hegiments .—First, W. T. Helm; Seventh, Harris; Four- 
teenth, J. E. King. 

Third Ai-kansas Regiment, G. E. Butler. 

First Texas Regiment, I. R. Vick. 

Army Corps.— First, Dr. Theo. Pryor; Second, Dr. B. T. Lacey, Dr. L. 
Rosser, and Rev. E. J. Willis; Third, Dr. George D. Armstrong. 

Cavalry Corps, Virginia Regiments. — Sixth, R. T. Davis; Ninth, C. It. 
Boggs; Tenth, James B. Taylor, .Tr. 

Artillery £a«aZions.— Haskell's, J. A. Chombliss; Washington's, Will- 



300 APPENDIX. 

iam A. Hall; Cutsham's, Page; Nelson's, T. W. Gilmer; Braxton's, 

Dr. A. B. Brown anclJes. Nelson; Hardaway's, T. M. Niveu ami H. M. 

White; Pegram's, Hodman; Poague's, James Wheary. 

Post C/j«jJtoi?is.— Petersburg, Tliomas Hume, Sr., Thomas Hume, Jr., 
\V. M. Young, and J. B. Hardwickc; Staunton, Dr. J. B. Taylor; Char- 
lottesville, Dr. W. F. Broddus; Lynchburg, Rev. J. L. Johnson; Gordons- 
ville. Dr. D. B. Ewing; Farmville, Rev. A. D. McVeigh; Danville, Rev. 
C. C. Choplin; Richmond, Dr. J. B. Taylor, Sr., Dr. Robert Ryland, Dr. 
W. W. Bennett, Revs. William H. Williams, J. E. Martin, and J. T. Car- 
penter- practically the pastors of Richmond, among whom were Drs. J. 
T. Burrows, J. B. Jeter, D. Shaver, J. B. Solomon, and L. W. Seely, Bap- 
tists; Drs. M. D. Hoge, T.V. Moore, and C. II. Read, Presbyterians; Drs. D- 
S. Doggett, J. A. Duncan, and J. E. Edwards, Methodists; Drs. C. Minno- 
gerode, G. W. Woodbridge, Peterskins, and T. G. Dashiels, Episcopalian. 

I record here some of the names of preachers I met minister- 
ing to the spiritual interests of the soldiers during the war: 

Chaplains Rush, of the Third Georgia; McLean, of the Thirty- 
sixth Georgia; G. R. Kramer, of the Thirty-ninth Georgia; Thomson, 

of the Fortieth Georgia; Dr. Rosser, of the Forty-lirst Georgia; Os- 

]in, of the Forty-third Georgia; Brown, of the Forty-sixth Georgia; 

AV. A. Parks, of the Fifty-second Georgia; Daniel, of the Fifty- 
seventh Georgia; and J. II. Myers, Strickland, and Timmons; 

Drs. Ilarpe and A.G. Haygood. Missionaries to Georgia troops, L. R. 
Redding and L. B. Payne. 

Chaplains J. G. Richards, of the Tenth South Carolina; J. P. De Pass, 
of the Sixteenth South Carolina; F. Auld, of the Twenty-fourth South 
Carolina; ^Y. T. Hall, South Carolina. 

Chaplains E. C. Wexler, of the Twenty-ninth North Carolina; 

Beauman, of the Forty-eighth North Carolina. 

Chaplains R. L. Wiggins, of the Fourth Florida; J. IT. Tomkies, of the 
Seventh Florida; Giles, Plorida. 

Chaplains L. C. Ransom, Alabama; J. IT. Willoughby, Eighteenth 

Alabama; Elbert West, Twenty-fifth Alabama; W. W. Graham, Twenty- 
eighth Alabama; J. S. Holt, Thirty-fourth Alabama; C. M. Hutton, 
Thirty-sixth Alabama; W. F. Norton, Thirty-ninth Alabama; Dr. B. W. 
McDonald, Fiftieth Alabama; A. D. McVoy, Fifty-eighth Alabama; J. 
P. McMullen, missionary. Alabama Brigade, Revs. Lieutenants Curry 
and Jones. 



TiZLIGION IN THE SOUTIIErtX AilMY. 301 

Chaplain 11. (i. Poftcr .'" GiMeroy "), Tenth Mississippi. 

Chaplains Monis and Finney, Kctor's Texas Brigade; Dr. Bunting, 
Terry's Texas Rangers. 

Chaplains E. U. Bounds and Lattimore, Cockrill's Missouri Brigade. 

Chaplains H. H. Kavanaugh, of the Sixth Kentucky; Kiddle, 

Kentucky; and C. W. Miller, missionary to Kentucky troops. 

Chaplains Dr. C. T. Quintard, First Tennessee; T. H. Davenport, Third 
Tennessee; Allen Tnbble, Fourth Tennessee; C. S. Hearn, Fifth Tennes- 
see; M. B. De Witt, Kighth Tennessee; Dr. F. E. Pitts and P. G. Jami- 
son, Eleventh Tennessee; W. T. Bennett, Twelfth Tennessee; L. II. Mil- 
iken, Thirteenth Tennessee; II. B. Moore, Seventeenth Tennessee; J. A. 
Ellis, Twentieth Tennessee; J. F. McCutchon, Twenty-fourth Tennessee; 
A. W. Smith, Twenty-iifth Tennessee; Harris, Twenty-sixth Ten- 
nessee; J. C. Chapman, Thirty-second Tennessee; J. W. Johnson, Thir- 
ty-seventh Tennessee; McMurray, Forty-flfth Tennessee; .1. 11. 

McNeely, Forty-niiith Tennessee; J. G. Bolton, Fiftieth Tennessee; S. 
A. Kelly, Strahl's Tennessee Brigade. Drs. F. S. Petway and Joseph 
Cross, also Revs. J. W. Culhxm, W. H. Browning, J. B. Allison, B. M. 
Stephens, and others were chaplains from Tennessee. 

H. D. Hogan, J. II. Strayborii, John Goal, John A.Tlionipson, 
J. R. Harris, John P. McForrin, F. Tarrant, William H. Anthony, 
T. L. Duncan, B. W. Bond, W. D. Cherry, R. A. Wilson, iNI. G. 
Williams, J. G. Hinson, B. F. Smith, A. L. Hamilton, J. B. Ham- 
ilton, F. R. Hill, and others, were in the Southern army, some 
of Avhom I never saw during the war. Dr. J. B. McFerrin, Will- 
iam Burr, W. Mooney, and R. P. Ransom I met often in their 
active work as missionaries to the Army of Tennessee. 

The following were appointed by the Missionary Board of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, South : Revs. Leo. Rosser and J. 
C. Granhery, in the Army of Northern Virginia; J. B. McFerrin, 
C. W. Miller, W. Mooney, R. P. Ransom, and W. Burr, in the 
Army of Tennessee ; J. S. Lane and E. B. Duncan, in the Depart- 
ment of Florida ; J. J. Wheat and H. J. Harris, in Mississippi ; 
W. C. Johnson, to General S. D. Lee's Corps, North Mississippi ; 
J. J, Hutchinson, to the army about Mobile; and beyond the 



302 ArPENDix. 

Mississippi River, J. C. Keener to Louisiana troops, and B. T. 
Kavanaugh and E. M. Marvin to Missouri and Arkansas troops. 

Dr. J. William Jones, in "Clirist in the Camp," very truly said 
of the work of the chaplains and missionaries in the army : " One 
of the most potent factors in the grand success of our work was 
the union of hearts and hands of all Christian workers. Dr. 
Hoge wrote of the great revival in Barksdale's Brigade in 18G3. 
We had a Presbyterian sermon introduced by Baptist services 
under the direction of a Methodist chaplain in an Episcopal 
church. That was but a type of what was usual all through the 
army. We found common ground upon which we could stand 
shoulder to shoulder and labor for the cause of our common 
Master. And I am glad to believe that the fraternal spirit which 
has so largely prevailed for some years among evangelical Chris- 
tians at the South is in no small degree due to the habit of co- 
operation which so generally prevailed during the war." 

I indorse all my good Baptist brother wrote anent the cath- 
olic spirit which prevailed among the preachers of different de- 
nominations in the army. We preached a full, free salvation to 
all, and when soldiers of the cross desired to enter the army of 
the Lord we gave them the privilegeof selecting their own com- 
pany and choosing the division in which they could best battle 
for God against Satan. Their names were taken and ministers 
of their choice were invited to baptize them, and there was no 
controversy on the mode of baptism, or proselyting, and all who 
repented and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and were obe- 
dient to his will as they understood his word, were recognized 
as Christians in the army. 

If nothing else was gained by the war, the broad, strong bond 
of Christian charity, which binds the people of God closer to- 
gether now than in other years, and manifests more of the spirit 
of our Lord than hitherto, is to me the best evidence that great 



RELIGION IN THE SOUTHERN ARMY. 303 

good grew out of what seemed a great evil. During the thirty- 
five years of my ministry I regard the four years of my army 
life as the most useful. I have found no other field so fertile 
and fruitful for soul-saving, no other people more devout and 
spiritual than Christian soldiers, and no ministers more zealous 
and faithful than chaplains, whether Baptists, Presbyterians, 
Episcopalians, Methodists, Disciples, or Catholics. ♦ 

S. M. Cherry. 
Near Vanderbilt University, March lo, 1890. 



THE INSTITUTION OF DOMESTIC SLAVERY 
IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



In a work like this the real facts with regard to the institution 
of shivery, and especially domestic slavery as it existed in the 
Southern States before the war, should have a i^lace. These 
facts have been distorted and exaggerated long enough. It is 
due to the dead who have been misunderstood and misrepre- 
sented, and to their posterity who have a just ])ride in their an- 
cestry, that the truth should be told, if but briefly, in these pages. 
What are the focts concerning slavery? 

1. Slavery has existed in all ages and in almost all countries. 
It still exists in Africa (the original home of the Southern ne- 
groes) and elsewhere. 

2. Slavery was recognized both in the Old and New Testament 
Scriptures. The patriarchs were slave-holders. Abraham, the 
friend of God and " Father of the Faithful," was a large slave- 
holder. Slavery existed when our Lord Jesus Christ was on the 
earth, and in the days of the apostles, but no word of condem- 
nation of the institution was ever spoken by him or any of them. 
On the contrary, the Apostle Paul sent a runaway slave back to 
his master. 

3. For thousands of years the institution of slavery was every- 
where regarded as a matter of course. Every civilized nation of 
the earth has at some time or other been a slave-holding nation. 
While from time to time during past ages a solitary voice has 
been raised against the institution, the agitation against it is a 
thing of comparatively modern date. 

(304) 



SLAVERY IN THE SOUTHEllN STATES. 305 

4. The slave trade was carried on by the European nations for 
many years, especially by England and Holland. The English 
and the Dutch planted slavery in the United States, with some 
help from the Spaniards and Portuguese. 

5. The New England States were extensively imi^licated in the 
slave trade, especially Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The 
Southern States have had but little to do with it at any period 
of their history. 

C. Slavery once existed in all the original Northern States. 
When it ceased to be profitable with them their slaves were 
mostly sold and taken to the South, where because of the inven- 
tion of tlie cotton-gin and the peculiarities of the climate, it was 
more remunerative. The title of the Southern people to their 
slaves emanated in a large degree from the people of the North- 
ern States, who carried on the slave trade, and who sold to the 
South the slaves owned by themselves. 

7. The institution of domestic slavery was recognized and pro- 
tected by the Federal Constitution, which was the solemn com- 
pact of union between the States of the American Union. This 
provision of the Constitution was flagrantly violated by the 
Northern States — those very States that afterward went to war 
to coerce the Southern States to hold them to the observance of 
a compact so grossly violated by themselves. 

8. Steps were taken by some of the older Southern States look- 
ing to the emancipation of the slaves sixty years ago, but the 
violence of the enemies of the institution and of the South be- 
came so great, and their methods so dangerous, that in self-de- 
fense the people of the Southern States were compelled to turn 
their attention to measures for the protection of civil society 
itself rather than for the gradual emancipation of their slaves, 
which they had tentatively begun to consider. 

9. The slave population of the Southern States increased so 

20 



306 APrENDix. 

liipidly that at length the iminber was so great, and the institu- 
tion was so interwoven into the social, industrial, and political 
life of the South, that emancipation by the peaceful methods once 
possible seemed to be an impossibility. Twelve hundred mill- 
ions of dollars were invested in it, and the whole labor system 
of the South rested on it. 

10. Under the influence of domestic slavery as it existed in the 
South every successive generation of the negroes made an ad- 
vance in civilization over its predecessor. Savages and cannibals 
in Africa, here in the Southern States they were humanized and 
civilized under the influences brought to bear upon them. In 
all the world besides there could not be found an equal numlier 
of black people enjoying an equal degree of physical comfort or 
raised to an equal degree of moral development. Slavery re- 
deemed them from savager}', and gave them the rudiments of 
civilization and Christianity. The great body of the slaves were 
kindly treated, and they were a healthy, contented, and prolific 
race, noted for their muscular development, musical genius, and 
jolly good humor. The relations existing between them and 
their owners were for the most part kindly. The material pros- 
perity of the South, the rapid growth of the negro population, 
the absence of any considerable social convulsions or disorders, 
furnish the proofs of the truth of this statement. 

11. The religious wclfiire of the slaves was not neglected. The 
leading religious denominations of the South made provision for 
their religious instruction, and hundreds of thousands of them 
were communicants of the several Churches engaged in this 
service. The best white ministers of the gospel preached to 
them in the city, town, and country, and in many Christian 
homes in the South the white and the black members of the 
household knelt together in family worship. There was man- 
ifest an increasing interest in the religious welfare of the slaves. 



SLAVEKY IN THE SOUTHEllN STATES. 307 

12. Those who are now working most HUccef^Hfiilly fur the pro- 
motion of the rehgious welfare of the emancipated negroes are 
building upon the foundations laid during the days of slavery in 
the Southern States. The most of the reputable and reliable re- 
ligious leaders among the negrt^es at the present time were once 
slaves and received their religious training under the direction 
of white masters previous to tiieir emancipation. The signifi- 
cance of such a fact as this ought not to ))e overlooked by any 
who would reach a just conclusion with regard to this matter. 

13. Tlie question whether slavery should be confined within 
its then existing limits, with the threat of constant war upon it 
until it was destroyed, or whether it should be admitted into the 
new Territories of the Union as they wei-e organized, had much 
to do in intensifying the sectional excitement which at last cul- 
minated in the long and bloody A\ar. It may be said, therefore, 
that the crusade against slavery, if not the cause, was one of the 
occasions of the war, the Southern States contending for a con- 
stitutional right which the North had practically nullified and 
which was being assailed with constantly increasmg violence. 

14. The emancipation of the slaves finally came in the guise 
of a war measure, and was a sudden change of the civil relations 
of millions of people unparalleled in the history of the human 
race. That this tremendous revolution was effected without 
bloodshed or social disorder, the two races continuing to live 
side by side in peace, is a proof that as a rule under slavery the 
masters were kind. 

15. Since the slaves were emancipated they seem content to 
remain where they are, preferring to take their chances with 
their former masters rather than to cross the line and seek their 
fortunes elsewhere. And here, under the political domination 
and social influence of the white people of the South, they are 
acquiring property and education, and getting ready for whr"" 



\ 



308 APPENDIX. 

ever God may have in store for them in the future, which is 
known only to him. 

The foregoing iacts will stand the test of fair and thorough in- 
vestigation, and they carry their own deductions with them. 
Whatever might be said with regard to the harsher features and 
incidents of slavery may safely and properly be left to the many 
writers who have shown a readiness not only to exaggerate evils 
such as are incident to all human institutions, but to invent what 
never had any existence save in the wild declamation of dema- 
gogues, the excited fancies of fanatics, the credulity of the weak- 
minded who take their facts at second-hand, and the malicious 
inventions of those who are always ready to take up a reproach 
against their neighbors. 















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